South Fulton Alcohol License and Zoning Public Hearings Meeting - July 14, 2026

The Mayor and City Council of South Fulton, Georgia, convened at City Hall at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, for the Alcohol License and Zoning Public Hearings Meeting. Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs presided, City Clerk Corey Adams took roll call, and a quorum was established; minutes show all seven councilmembers present, with Bell, Pritchett, and Williams-Brown attending virtually. The meeting covered an initial block of rezoning deferrals, an alcohol license application, a country inn rezoning and special use permit application, a rezoning requiring re-advertisement, and the FY2026-2030 CDBG Consolidated Plan public hearing. Most cases were deferred to August 11, 2026, and no final votes were recorded on the public-hearing-only items.

Rezoning Case Deferrals (Items III.A-III.E)

• Z26-012/CDP26-005/CV26-003: Greater Turner Chapel AME Church c/o Darnell Moore, 4685 Cascade Road, 5.16 acres, District 1. Requested R-3 to SH rezoning, a future land use amendment from Suburban I to Community Live Work, and a variance to reduce the 40-foot undisturbed buffer to 20 feet on the west and south for a retaining wall and walking path. Staff and Planning Commission recommended deferral. Deferred to August 11, 2026.
• Z26-013: SDH Central Georgia, LLC c/o Battle Law, 7000 and 7050 Bishop Road, 25.50 acres, District 4. Requested AG-1 to CUP to develop 75 single-family detached homes. Staff recommended denial; Planning Commission recommended deferral. Deferred to August 11, 2026.
• Z26-014/CDP26-004: Taliya King, 5250 Northfield Blvd, 0.52 acres, District 5. Requested AG-1 to R-4 (Old National Highway Overlay) for two single-family detached dwellings and a land use amendment from Regional Live Work to Suburban I. Staff and Planning Commission recommended deferral. Deferred to August 11, 2026.
• Z26-010/CV26-002: 2020 Enterprise Group, LLC c/o Battle Law, 7490 Butner Road, approximately 13.8 acres, District 4. Requested CUP to SH (Cliftondale Overlay) with buffer variances to develop a 50-unit senior residential community for residents 62 and older. Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission recommended deferral. Deferred to August 11, 2026.
• Z26-001/CDP26-003: Bridge Logistics c/o Henry Bailey, 157.86 acres at 0 Campbellton Road and several Chattahoochee Drive parcels, District 1. Requested SUB-A (Sandtown Overlay) to M-1 and a future land use amendment to Industrial for a 1,727,500-square-foot, seven-building light industrial warehouse and distribution campus. Staff and Planning Commission recommended deferral. Deferred to August 11, 2026.

Mayor Gumbs noted the upcoming July 15, 2026, Planning Commission meeting and asked whether there were objections; councilmembers voiced none, so the deferrals were accepted.

Public Comments and Testimony

• For the South Side Touché alcohol license, applicant Tonia Edwards (the transcript says Antonia Edwards) spoke in favor; no opposition comment cards were filed.
• For Z26-009/U26-005, applicant Bryant T. Marks (the transcript says Dr. Brian Marks) spoke in favor; no opposition comment cards were filed.
• For the CDBG Consolidated Plan hearing, no speaker cards were submitted.
• No public comment was noted for the deferral cases.

Alcohol License: South Side Touché LLC (Public Hearing Only)

• Application for consumption sales of wine, beer, and distilled beverages at 5495 Old National Highway, Suite B-15, Atlanta, GA 30349, District 5. The applicant said staff recommended approval.
• Councilmember Bell asked about the business type, hours, and age policy. The applicant described the business as a restaurant, currently open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., planning lunch service once licensed, and 21-and-up after 10 p.m. A police representative reported no complaints.
• Mayor Gumbs welcomed the applicant and said she had attended the opening. No formal council vote was recorded.

Zoning and Special Use Permit: Z26-009/U26-005 Marks Country Inn (Public Hearing Only)

• Request to rezone from R-3 (Cliftondale Overlay) to AG-1 and obtain a Special Use Permit for a Country Inn at 0 and 4965 Butner Road, District 2. Staff and Planning Commission both recommended approval.
• The applicant said the property is 16 acres with nine bedrooms and would host one- to three-day retreats for groups of about 8 to 15; he described a muscadine grape venue and agri-tourism. He explained that the code defines a Country Inn as 6 to 30 units, requires the owner to live on site, and requires at least five acres, all of which his property meets.
• He stated it would not be a traditional hotel or individually bookable online; weddings would be selective; and neighbors were supportive.
• Councilmembers Johnson and Sebastian spoke in support. No formal council vote was recorded.

Zoning Case Z26-011 Dianne Lloyd (Deferred)

• Requested rezoning from R-6 to R-6 with no conditions at 0 and 7390 Cedar Grove Road, 10.68 acres, District 4, to subdivide the property into four residential lots. Staff recommended denial; Planning Commission recommended approval conditional on rezoning to AG-1.
• Managing Director Reggie McClendon said changes agreed at the Planning Commission required re-advertising for legal purposes, and council deferred the case to August 11, 2026.
• In discussion, McClendon said R-6 is the only district allowing duplexes and could allow small lots of roughly 13,000 to 14,000 square feet; he estimated 20 to 30 units could be possible with R-6 and creative layout, while AG-1 generally allows one unit per acre with one-acre minimums. Councilmember Pritchett asked whether rezoning to AG-1 was therefore a downzone; McClendon said it was.

CDBG Five-Year Consolidated Plan and 2026 Annual Action Plan (Public Hearing)

• George Mensah of Housing and Community Development Associates (identified in the transcript as ACD Associates) presented the city's Program Year 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan and 2026 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant program.
• The city's 2026 CDBG allocation was stated as about $563,496, with about $1.5 million in prior CDBG funds available and about $2.8 million projected over five years. For 2026, he cited $812,215 for playground improvements at Crew Park, Buddha Park, and Old National Park, and approximately $743,000 (later cited in the transcript as $734,631) for senior homeowner rehabilitation.
• Strategic goals included affordable housing and rehab, public facilities and improvements, economic development and job training, and public services such as youth, senior, and homeless assistance.
• A survey of 48 residents showed 98% African American, 85% homeowners, and 65% with incomes of $100,000 and above. Survey priorities included public improvements, sidewalk improvements, job creation, affordable housing rehab, and community centers.
• Councilmembers noted low survey engagement: Councilmember Sebastian said 48 responses from a city of more than 115,000 was less than half of one percent. Councilmember Rowell said the results were consistent with senior rehab need and cited 35.42% choosing job creation and retention in Question 13; she suggested partnerships on workforce development and homebuyer education. The City Manager said other parks needing playground replacements do not qualify for CDBG because they are not in distress census tracts and are being considered for CIP/general funds. Councilmember Pritchett called for analysis of the types of jobs the city actually produces and for resident education about sustainable upkeep.

Proclamation Presentation

• None.

Executive Session

• Mayor Gumbs recessed at 5:40 PM by unanimous consent for an executive session on litigation, personnel, cybersecurity, and real estate. The meeting reconvened at 7:15 PM; no action requiring a public vote was reported. The Mayor then adjourned the meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Deferred to August 11, 2026: Z26-012/CDP26-005/CV26-003; Z26-013; Z26-014/CDP26-004; Z26-010/CV26-002; Z26-001/CDP26-003; and Z26-011.
• The deferrals included cases where staff and Planning Commission recommendations differed.
• Public hearings were held for the South Side Touché alcohol license and the Marks country inn application, but the minutes do not record final council votes on those items.
• The executive session resulted in no action requiring a public vote.

Source Discrepancies Noted

• Minutes list the South Side Touché applicant as Tonia Edwards; the transcript says Antonia Edwards.
• Minutes list the country inn applicant as Bryant T. Marks; the transcript says Dr. Brian Marks.
• The roll call transcript initially indicates Councilmember Pritchett was not seen, but the minutes record her as present virtually and she later participated.
• The transcript refers to Councilmember Rowell as Rao.
• The transcript gives the 2026 senior homeowner rehabilitation allocation as approximately $743,000 in one passage and $734,631 in another.
• The agenda identifies the presenter's firm as Housing and Community Development Associates; the transcript identifies it as ACD Associates.