New commercial development is coming soon at state route 81 and Lake Dow Road in McDonough. The applicant is planning five commercial outparcels along the roadway.
The McDonough council approved revised zoning conditions for the property at their March 20 meeting. The applicant plans to construct a new restaurant, tire store and oil change business, among other uses.
Lake Dow Road Commercial Development
The proposed commercial development is presently three undeveloped properties. Two of the lots already have C-3 (highway commercial) zoning. The final lot had C-2 (general commercial) zoning. The applicant, Trinity McDonough, LLC, applied for C-3 zoning to create conformity and update zoning conditions. The council approved this request by a 5-1 vote at their March meeting.
The new development has a total of 6.5 acres. It will be along highway 81 east of Lake Dow Road and the existing Zaxby’s restaurant. The commercial property extends on the frontage of highway 81 to Charleston’s Walk subdivision. A new rear-access road will connect each outparcel to Lake Dow Road.
From left to right (west to east), the proposed uses include the following:
- Freddy’s Burgers (closest to Zaxby’s), editor’s note: a 2024 update suggests this could now be Whataburger and / or Bojangles instead,
- a two-tenant building with a dentist’s office and retail space,
- a new car wash,
- Mavis Tires & Brakes, and
- Valvoline Oil Change.
A timeline for project construction was not immediately available.
Future Widening Project
There is a future widening project along state route 81. The widening project extends between Postmaster Drive and Bethany Road. Right of way acquisition begins this year, with construction to follow starting in 2025.
Because of the widening project, future access into the commercial lots will be limited to right-in / right-out driveways. For this reason, the proposed rear-access road to Lake Dow Road will provide a major connection for traffic flow. The rear-access road would also serve any possible future development on land to the north. About ten additional acres have commercial zoning for future development.
Featured image shows state route 81 at Lake Dow Road, looking east past Zaxby’s. Clayton Carte photo.
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