Your DeKalb Farmers' Market plans massive expansion

DECATUR, Ga. — Documents show owners of the popular Your DeKalb Farmers' Market in Decatur want to expand their business to include more than 1 million additional square feet of retail and warehouse space.

The Atlanta Regional Commission confirms it received documents detailing parts of the expansion plans.

DeKalb County officials said the proposed project is so large, the ARC would have to sign off on it before it could move forward.

According to the documents, Your DeKalb Farmers' Market wants to add an additional 518,000 square feet of retail space to its existing building. It also plans to build 718,000 square feet of warehouse space and create an additional 2,600 parking spaces.

The documents list Robert W. Blazer as the owner and state the expansion project could begin in October 2013. Those familiar with the project believe it will all take place on adjoining land the market already owns.

The market, created in 1977, is located along East Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur.

"I think it'd be great," said longtime shopper Kimberly Trezvant. "It is a little crowded now. It would be great for space."

Your DeKalb Farmer's Market is situated next to the Old Scottdale Mill neighborhood. Many residents there support the idea of expansion.

"When this one was built, it was done well," said resident Kathleen Andres. "I can only imagine that as prudent businesspeople, they would want their expansion to be done equally as well."

Other residents said they needed to learn more information about the project before they could give it their full support.

"I'm definitely worried about the traffic in our neighborhood," said resident Kat Christian. "It's really quiet back here. That's what I like about it. The thought of that big of an expansion kind of gives me pause."

Calls to the market owners were not returned. ARC officials believe the Commission could begin its review of the plans this week.

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WSBTV