-Nolan Hiott, WRGA-
The Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission met on Thursday and voted to recommend approval of an annexation request for a convenience store on Burnett Ferry Road, currently where A-1 Food and Beverage sits.
The applicant was represented by attorney Fisher K. Law, who spoke during the planning commission meeting.
“As we know, the moratorium [on new convenience stores] has been lifted now,” he said. It’s been lifted since February 9. And we’re gonna take another shot and ask the city again to be annexed into the city. As a matter of procedure, we have to start here again. But luckily, I think this is an easy case.”
No citizens spoke in opposition.
Randy Quick, City Ex-Officio, spoke at the meeting and was curious as to the purpose of the annexation.
“I’m reading this, and the sole purpose is the addition of COAM machines for a license that was suspended earlier,” he said.
Law responded.
“I wouldn’t say sole purpose,” he said. “But a key purpose here for the property owner is to get this property back in a location where his tenants can be eligible for COAM.”
“It’s really, at the end of the day, about protecting my client’s investment in the property,” Law added. “And one of the ways to do that is to get his property back in a location where he is eligible for COAM in the future.”
Commission member Brandie Townsend also remarked on the close proximity of the convenience store to a residential area.
The vote to recommend approval was 7-2.
The final decision will be up to the Rome City Commission.
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