A lot on the northeast corner of Ga. Highway 154 and Willis Road in east Coweta County was rezoned on Oct. 17 for a 25,000 sq. ft. shopping center.

Applicant Ricky Willis, in a proposal approved unanimously by the Coweta County Commission, requested a rezoning from RC (rural conservation) to C-6 (minor shopping center) for the construction of a 25,000 sq. ft. retail center fronting Hwy. 154 and a 50,000 sq. ft. office building with four suites facing Willis Road.

The proposal received unanimous approval.

Project representative Neal Spradlin noted that the property at the intersection is situated along a state highway and is outfitted with a traffic signal. A convenience store and a daycare business are located across the street, he said.

Spradlin said adjacent land owners, along with those providing more than a dozen letters from surrounding property owners, support the project.

Turn lanes, based on a traffic study by the applicant, were included in the proposal.

Two residents at the meeting spoke in favor of the proposal while nearly a dozen people spoke in opposition. They largely cited a variety of traffic concerns that would result from the development. Also noted was the potential for other proposals by additional developers.

County Transportation and Engineering Director Tod Handley said the Ga. Department of Transportation was consulted in the traffic study discussion and approved of the traffic portion of the project.