Sandy Springs halts gas station, convenience store requests

The Sandy Springs City Council recently imposed a 120-day moratorium on new applications for gas stations and convenience stores. AJC FILE

The Sandy Springs City Council recently imposed a 120-day moratorium on new applications for gas stations and convenience stores. AJC FILE

The Sandy Springs City Council on recently night slapped a 120-day moratorium on new applications for gas stations and convenience stores.

The Council was responding to a request by city staff for more time to study locations and design criteria where such uses are allowed, officials said. Applications submitted prior to the moratorium will still be considered.

Assistant City Manager Jim Tolbert said the city has been looking at development as part of its comprehensive planning, and work remains on such land uses as convenience stores and gas stations. “The hold on new applications provides the added time needed to ensure consistency with planning initiatives,” Tolbert said.

In January 2015, Sandy Springs imposed a similar 120-day moratorium — on new convenience store applications — after it received a number of requests in areas officials said were inconsistent with its master plan.