Sonic still can’t move to Gateway District

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Donnita Fisher Managing Editor

Despite a majority of the Canton City Council agreeing that a new Sonic Drive-in would be a good use of property located in the 1100 block of South Trade Days Boulevard, a request to change the zoning to allow the fast food restaurant to build there failed at the Dec. 15 meeting.

In order to change the 2004 Comprehensive Plan for Future Land Use from Gateway District to Retail on the property, a super majority of the council – or four of the council’s five votes – was needed because the planning and zoning commission had recommended denial of the request.

The item failed by a vote of three to two with councilmembers Connie Odic, Scott Perkins and Cindy Malouf voting for the change and Mayor pro tem Shawn Stewart and councilman Nathan Moore voting against.

The property in question is located next to Mr. D’s convenience store to the south and across Hwy. 19 from CVS.

Officials estimated allowing the Sonic would increase traffic in the area by 150 to 200 cars per day and bring in about $500,000 annually in additional revenue.

The property is located in the Gateway District. Sonic had previously asked for a special use permit to build on the property. Council denied the request.

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