Round two of the quest to bring

Hooters to Fayetteville is underway, but it will likely be much different

from the first round.

City records show that a developer

has begun permit applications to locate a Hooters restaurant on Ga. Highway

85 in the building formerly occupied by Shoney's, which closed several

months ago. The site is at the junctions of Ga. Highway 314 and Jeff Davis

Drive with Hwy. 85.

An attempt to open a Hooters

in a new building failed last summer when the company could not get beyond

the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. More than 100 residents came

out in opposition to the request, citing moral reasons because of the

Hooters image, but it was problems arising from JDN Corporation's unfinished

work on a nearby tract that stopped the project.

This time, rezoning is not

an issue because none is required. The old Shoney's location has been

the subject of Hooters' rumors for a couple of months because it already

has the appropriate zoning for a restaurant. The site is zoned C-2, and

restaurants are allowed in Fayetteville in C-1 and C-2 zoning districts.

According to a copy of a building

permit application obtained from City Hall, which was filed within the

past week, Hooters of America is listed as the owner of the site at 750

N. Glynn St., and the request is for a remodeling of an existing building.

Estimated construction costs are $125,000 for the 4,000-sq. ft. building,

the application states.

City officials have said that

the applicants in this case are not required to come before the Planning

and Zoning Commission at all unless structural changes are made to the

building itself or a variance to the sign ordinance is requested. Indoor

remodeling is governed by the Building Department at the staff level and

does not require any type of approval by the City Council or any other

governing body.

"As long as there are

no structural changes, they do not [have to appear before the Planning

and Zoning Commission]," said city planning director Maurice Ungaro.

The developers have not yet

made any application concerning a possible sign, Ungaro added.

Officials at Hooters of America's

headquarters in Atlanta could not be reached for comment before press

time Tuesday.

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