Pep Boys: Economic Boon or Future Eyesore?

Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks said he appreciates the fact that businesses are interested in coming to Dacula to invest in the community, but he does have reservations about the Pep Boys automotive repair center proposed for 565 Dacula Road.

“We don’t want a building that’s going to look like crap -- to put it mildly -- in a few years,” he said.

Councilwoman Sue Robinson also expressed concern about how the building might look in a few years, citing a Pep Boys in Lawrenceville as an example of a poorly maintained facility.

“I want to keep Dacula looking nice,” she said.

Lloyd Kapp, who represents property developer L.S. Dacula Georgia, assured council that the 5,546-square-foot building would be an attractive facility built in accordance with Pep Boys’ most recent specifications. The building would have a brick, stone and stucco exterior with bays facing inward instead of opening toward Dacula Road.

“Appearance along this corridor is important to Dacula because this is our northern entry to the city,” Wilbanks explained.

Another issue of concern is the site concept plan. The current proposal for the 1.35-acre lot includes not only the Pep Boys, but also a 7,590-square-foot retail building.

“My concern is that they’re trying to squeeze two businesses into a pretty small piece of land,” Robinson said.

Mayor Wilbanks said he was concerned with that aspect as well.

“I know the economics of the situation and I know that drives what gets proposed, but it’s what we call trying to get 10 pounds of flour in a five-pound bag, ” he added.

Dacula Director of Planning and Development Joey Murphy said the parking requirements would limit the size of the proposed second building. However, Murphy explained, any retail use that complied with the existing C-2 zoning requirements would be allowed.

A tenant for the second building has not yet been found, but Kapp indicated it could house a coffee shop or small restaurant.

On Wednesday, July 3, the Dacula City Council will vote on the Pep Boys special use permit request to allow automotive repair, tire sales and installation. The council will also vote on a variance request to reduce the side yard setbacks from 10 feet to five feet. A public hearing will be held prior to the vote. The council meeting and public hearing will take place at Dacula City Hall, 442 Harbins Road in Dacula. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

If the special use permit and variance is approved, Kapp said the building could be finished as soon as 120 days after all the relevant permits have been obtained. 

Council Proposes Millage Rate Increase

The property tax digest numbers are in and the news is not good.

According to Wilbanks, the digest is down $3 million from 2012 and down approximately $15 million for the past two to three years.

“If we expect to collect the same amount of money, we’re going to have to adjust the millage rate,” Wilbanks explained.

In order to keep property tax revenue at the 2012 level, the millage rate will have to be adjusted to 5.9 mills, up from the 5.073 rate currently in place. That adjustment would, by law, not technically constitute a tax increase as the revenue collected would remain essentially unchanged.

If the millage rate is not adjusted, the city stands to lose $21,000 in revenue.

The City of Dacula typically collects approximately $630,000 a year in property taxes, an amount that comprises 20-25 percent of the city’s budget.

A public hearing on the proposed millage rate is planned for July 15.