The Peachtree City Planning Commission at its Sept. 22 meeting gave the go-ahead to a discussion that could lead to a new Dunkin’ Donuts store at the Wisdom Road Convenience Center located at Ga. Highway 74 and Wisdom Road provided the applicant is okay with toning down expectations about the look of the exterior of the vacant storefront situated adjacent to the Shell FoodMart.
Commissioners approved a motion that gives city staff the ability to move forward with discussion on the proposal. The approval came with three conditions and was carried by a 3-0-1 vote. The conditions note that the existing brick may be cleaned but not painted, that fascia along the top of the building must match the existing gray fascia color and that building’s owner be approached about the possibility of painting the fascia a different color across the two-storefront building. Though the current fascia color is required to be gray, and differs from the light yellow or tan color proposed by Dunkin’ Donuts, a new, consistent color could be up for discussion if the building’s owner is willing consider a change.
The vote on the proposal was 3-0-1, with Chairman Patrick Staples and commissioners Linda Wojcik and David Conner voting in favor and Commissioner Frank Destadio abstaining because he wanted additional information.
The proposed Dunkin’ Donuts would be located on the north side of the building that currently houses the Shell FoodMart located on the south side of Wisdom Road along Ga. Highway 74.
Applicant Peter Patel is proposing to remodel the interior and exterior of the currently unoccupied space and to paint the existing brick and metal canopy and add new canopies and signage, according to a Sept. 15 memo by city Planning Coordinator Tony Bernard. A rendering of the proposal shows a medium brown exterior topped by a light tan or yellow fascia area near the top of the building and a somewhat darker accent stripe at the roof top. The rendering also shows awnings matching the accent stripe, the Dunkin’ Donuts logo displayed on the front of the store near the roof line and along the side of the building over the drive-thru window and a mural on the north side wall.
The measure was required to come before planning commissioners because the new facade and color scheme represents a substantial change from what was submitted and approved by the commission when originally approved in 1998.
Bernard in the memo said that while understanding the desire to modify the building’s exterior appearance, city staff believe the “building as a whole must be taken into consideration.” Staff held that “changing the color of the brick is not appropriate and does not compliment the rest of the building and the fascia along the top of the building should remain (in its original) gray to match the adjoining surface color.”
City staff supported the remainder of the project and recommended that the building renovations be approved with the conditions that the existing brick can be cleaned but not painted and that the fascia along the top of the building match the existing fascia color. Staff also agreed to approach the owner about a possible new fascia color for both storefronts.
