Local

Residents oppose liquor store location in Forsyth County

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Some Forsyth County neighbors are banding together to oppose a developer’s plan to build a liquor store across from their subdivision and just up the road from a high school.

Two businessmen propose building a package store on Drew Campground Road near Post Road, directly across from the Fieldstone neighborhood.

“To be clear, we’re not against alcohol consumption or alcohol sales, at all,” neighbor Andrea Pirtle told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik.  “We just wish they had picked a more appropriate location.”

Pirtle said she's concerned about the traffic that might accompany a liquor store.  She said she also believes that that kind of business will detract from her property value.
"What we would prefer to see is something more family-friendly," she said.  "There's lot of family friendly things that could go there and we would be in complete support of that."

Parent Kirk Brady said he agrees the land could be used for something better.

“There’s no rhyme or reason for them to put a liquor store in the center of our community,” he said.  “This is a community.  We’ve got tennis courts, basketball, and the liquor store across the street just doesn’t add up.

Attorney Ethan Underwood, who represents the developer, told Petchenik his client intends for the business to be an amenity for the community.  He showed Petchenik an artist’s rendering of the facility, which would also include a small strip shopping center.

“They certainly don’t want to build anything that will detract from people’s property values,” he said. “These are their potential customers.  They want them to come in and use the facility.”

Underwood said his client also plans to ensure safeguards are in place to prevent underage children from trying to buy alcohol at the store.

“Internally, our folks will have a lot of security measures, making sure they check IDs, making sure there’s adequate security cameras, adequate lighting,” he said.

The application goes before the Forsyth County commission for a vote Thursday.