The Dunwoody City Council at its July 27 meeting approved on second reading several variances and a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) for a new Kroger grocery store on Ashford Dunwoody Road.
The council, in a split vote, approved a SLUP and four other variances as Kroger redevelops the former Walmart store at Perimeter Village, which will include a drive-thru pharmacy and a gas station.
Kroger is taking about 166,000 square feet of the Walmart footprint, and representatives from owner Kimco said they are negotiating a lease with another entity that would use the remaining 60,000 square feet.
The council complimented Kroger officials for agreeing to restrict delivery hours to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in response to nearby residents’ concerns about the proposed hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday).
However, at least one council member voted against the three proposed agenda items.
John Heneghan voted against the variance that would allow the installation of a gas station. He had previously proposed a condition requiring gas hoses to be at least 12 feet long so that each pump could be accessible from both sides of the lane, which failed.
For the second measure, to allow for a drive-thru pharmacy, Joe Seconder was the dissenting vote, and Catherine Lautenbacher voted against a proposed master sign plan.
In other action, the council discussed possible modifications to the city’s open container districts that could extend the zones to other commercial districts, including Jett Ferry and Georgetown. One version proposed an open-container district throughout the city, an option the council said was neither viable nor enforceable.
The council also listened to a presentation about housing and commercial options for the Georgetown area that outlined priorities such as the construction low-rise residential, the buildout of the Dunwoody Green, developing plazas and passages as gathering places, and connections to nature.
In other action, the council:
- recognized the sixth class of the Dunwoody Teen Police Academy that participated in a week-long informational session about the police department and its functions;
- passed on consent agenda an agreement for the installation of holiday lights at Brook Run Park;
- approved on consent agenda members to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals, and several municipal judges;
- approved a contract extension with Triscapes for road and stormwater maintenance;
- heard that the city’s 2025 audit had no significant findings;
- funded $9,600 for the Dunwoody Nature Center outdoor classroom.
