Property owner Tino Venturi (L) discusses his options with his attorney, Garvis Sams, after the Kennesaw City Council turned down his rezoning request by a unanimous 5-0 vote.
With a vote of 5-0 on Wednesday, the Kennesaw City Council took care of a mistake made last fall when a local pawn shop was allowed to open its doors in a shopping center despite a 2004 agreement prohibiting such businesses from the property.
Cruchelow Jewelry & Loan, located at 2958 Cobb Parkway in the Mack Dobbs Point strip mall, will have to close its doors after losing a long battle with neighbors from two nearby subdivisions—Summer Brooke and Summer Stream. The city's planning commission had voted 3-0 against the rezoning request earlier this month.
"Please show all of us that laws are meant to be followed," said Summer Stream resident Lisa Stabler during the public hearing portion of the meeting. After the vote, Stabler and many other residents left feeling their voices were heard. "The mayor and city council did the right thing," said Stabler.
Cruchelow Jewelry & Loan owners John and Serena Cruchelow were in attendance, along with property owner Tino Venturi and his attorney, Garvis Sams. After a lengthy public hearing on April 3, the city council was unable to reach an agreement at that meeting as to what to do about the pawn shop.
"Cruchelow Jewelry is a successful extension of a successful shopping Center," said Sams, giving a chronology of the case between the city and his client. "We request approval of this application so this business can continue to operate."
About 40 residents from Summer Stream and Summer Brooke were in attendance, several publicly voicing their disapproval of the pawn shop.
But longtime Kennesaw resident Thomas Smith said he was there to support the Cruchelows.
"Personally, I'm delighted the shopping center is there, and I have no problem with this business," said Smith, who said he can see the pawn shop from his house. "You said OK in 2011 and now you say, 'oops, it's not supposed to be there,'" said Smith, addressing the council. "What part of the baby do you want to cut in two? Good luck, gentlemen and ladies."
