Dunkin' Donuts to Present Moreland Store Plan at Inman Park Neighborhood Meeting

CANDLER PARK — Dunkin' Donuts, which already has plans to build a store on a stretch of Ponce de Leon Avenue in Old Fourth Ward, has plans to construct another store at 299 Moreland Ave. NE.

The proposed site is a former gas station, just north of the Sherwin Williams paint store in the Candler Park portion of Little Five Points.

Dunkin' Donuts representatives are slated to present their plans, which include a controversial drive-thru to the Inman Park Neighborhood Association's monthly meeting this Wednesday.

The project applicant, Bob Zoeckler, wants a special exception from the on-site parking requirements that stipulate 43 spaces. He wants it reduced to 30 spots according to his application with the city's Office of Planning.

A hearing date is scheduled on May 9 before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The project already is raising concerns among Inman Park residents, who will review the site plans Wednesday night at that neighborhood's monthly meeting.

Project representatives are scheduled to make a presentation at that meeting.

Among the chief concerns is a proposed drive-thru and whether or not it conforms to development guidelines for Little Five Points.

Other concerns include traffic flow and the impact that a crush of vehicles going in and out of the proposed store will have on that stretch Moreland between DeKalb and McLendon avenues.

As it is, motorists heading south on Moreland often have to come to sudden stops for folks wanting to make left-hand turns — against three northbound lanes of traffic — to turn into the Cameli's Pizza, Front Page News and Tijuana Garage restaurant complex.

Still other concerns center around Little Five Points' identity as a being a business hub of independent businesses and retailers, not national chains.