Roswell's commercial corridors along Holcomb Bridge Road and the GA-400 gateway could soon get their first dedicated zoning rules for car dealerships, rental lots and auto showrooms under a proposed code change that moved forward Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The city's Committees of Council took up the Unified Development Code amendment at its 5 p.m. meeting in City Hall, alongside nearly $343,000 in lighting contracts for the Smith Plantation Trail and a $45,000 state arts grant application.
Auto dealership zoning
The proposed ordinance would amend UDC Articles 4 and 9, adding regulations for vehicle sales and rental uses and creating a new definition and use standards for "Auto Showroom and Maintenance." The draft ordinance title also references Article 6, suggesting employment districts may be affected.
The city has no such rules now. Roswell's corridor and nodes districts lack specific standards governing where and how car dealerships or showrooms can operate, and the amendment would fill that gap for the first time, according to the committee's meeting agenda.
The full Mayor and Council is expected to vote on the amendment at its Monday, Aug. 24 meeting.
Smith Plantation Trail lighting
The committee also considered two contracts totaling $342,901 to replace light poles and fixtures along the trails surrounding Smith Plantation:
- Prime Contractors: $171,871 for installation, with a total project authorization of $197,652 that includes contingency funds
- Sesco Lighting: $171,030 for the purchase of poles and fixtures, listed as a sole-source vendor
Project manager Nick Paserchia oversaw the procurement process, which included an onsite meeting June 11 and a bid deadline of June 30, according to the city's July capital project list. The project's target completion is December 2026.
Arts grant for ceramics studio
The committee considered a resolution to apply for and accept a Georgia Council for the Arts Facilities Grant of up to $45,000 for the Art Center West Ceramics Studio Expansion Project. The state grant program, administered through the Georgia Department of Economic Development, supports capital improvements to arts facilities.
What's next
All three items are expected to go before the full Mayor and Council for a vote at the Monday, Aug. 24 meeting. The committee, which includes Mayor Mary Robichaux, all six council members and City Administrator Randy Knighton, also heard a presentation on the FY2026 second-quarter management review and discussed the fiscal year 2027 budget and 2026 millage rate.
