The McDonough City Council voted at its October 19 regular meeting to approve a rezoning from C-2 (general commercial) to C-3 (highway commercial) with a variance for three adjacent tracts on Hwy. 20/81 on the northeast corner of the I-75 interchange in front of the Walmart shopping center.

  The properties, which include the former location of Ruby Tuesday and Waffle House restaurants, have been combined into a single tract of nearly two acres that will now be developed as a QuikTrip convenience store and gas station.

  The vote followed the recommendation of city staff as well as the planning commission, and no one spoke in opposition to the proposal at the public hearing. The council vote was 7-0.

  In other business, the council approved a concept plan for a 49-acre site just east of downtown McDonough could see as many as 470 residential units sometime in the future. The proposal includes a 182-unit senior housing facility and a separate 288-unit workforce housing complex on a tract on the east side of S. Zack Hinton Parkway, just north of the post office and McDonough High School.

  The approval is contingent upon a traffic impact analysis as well as the future termination of the city’s moratorium currently in place regarding development that connects to the city water system.

  A new park ordinance as approved that addresses various provisions for park usage such as reserving pavilions and specific facilities, media productions, outdoor events, parades, public assembly, sale of goods on park property, vehicle restrictions, alcohol use, and pet guidelines.

  Also approved was an ordinance regulating the parking of large trucks (four or more axles) in residential areas, on neighborhood streets and in yards. The ordinance does not apply to residential properties that are two or more acres in size.

  A revised fee schedule for various city services was approved, updating fees that had not changed in 15-20 years in most cases. These include building and trade permits, inspections, occupational tax licenses, certificates of occupancy, land disturbance fees, fire safety fees and permits, and planning and zoning.

  In a separate action, the council approved, under its consent agenda, allocations for a new public safety vehicle, a drum feeder chipper, an emergency repair at the waste water treatment plant, and an agreement for GIS mapping services along with authorization to solicit bids for construction at Jonesboro Road.