Shoppes at Ola Crossroads Grocery Store Approved by County

A new grocery store will soon build along state route 81 in the Ola area after receiving approval this week from the board of commissioners. Additional uses planned for the 103.5 acre property, located east of North Ola Road, include commercial outparcels and a residential subdivision with 104 lots.

The developer, JWA Ventures II of Montgomery, AL, did not name the planned grocer. They shared the grocer is the largest employee-owned company in the country. According to the National Center for Employee Ownership, Publix Super Markets holds that distinction.

Shoppes at Ola Crossroads

The BOC voted unanimously to rezone the property from RA (residential agricultural) and C-1 (neighborhood commercial) to MU (mixed use). Zoning conditions include the following:

• Commercial uses shall be limited to the C-1 (neighborhood commercial) and C-2 (general commercial) zoning districts. Conditions exclude uses permitted only within C-3 (highway commercial) zoning.
• The minimum single-family lot sizes shall be 22,000 square feet where sewer is available. Minimum lot sizes shall be 30,000 square feet where septic tanks are necessary.
• Minimum residential home sizes shall be 2,400 square feet in heated floor area with side entry garages.
• The owner and developer shall preserve right of way along highway 81 for a future widening to four lanes.
• Entrances shall meet minimum spacing and sight distance requirements per the road’s posted speed limit. Acceleration and deacceleration lanes shall meet Georgia DOT and HCDOT standards.
• The development shall be constructed in substantial compliance with land use designations on the project’s site plan.
• The subdivision shall have no more than 104 dwelling units.
• The developer shall sod all disturbed areas within residential lots.
• The owner / developer shall preserve thirty feet of property along the eastern property boundary where used for commercial purposes for connections / extensions of Keys Ferry Road if the construction is within five years of the rezoning approval.
• The developer shall contribute $20,000 towards the realignment of South Ola Road, subject to the county entering into a construction contract for the transportation project within two years of the rezoning approval.

The conditions found within the highway corridor overlay also apply to the project. The overlay regulates building materials, landscaping, pedestrian paths, and ground-based signage for new development. It applies along major roadways within unincorporated Henry County.

Other Property Uses

In addition to a grocery store, the commercial development will have auxiliary shops. Commercial buildings will flank either side of the grocer. There are also three outparcels.

The project is preserving about nine acres along highway 81 for additional commercial development. The developer is actively marketing the project on their website; they did not share if other businesses had expressed interest in the development to date.

Finally, the balance of the property will be a future subdivision. Lots will be one half-acre in size — consistent with other zoning approvals in the area. The subdivision will have a maximum of 104 lots.

Featured image shows the general store previously located at the corner of state route 81 and North Ola Road. Special photo.