CANTON — A convenience store proposed at what many call a dangerous intersection is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The Cherokee County Planning Commission recommended approval of the request from RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. to rezone 7.33 acres along Cumming Highway just east of Old Doss Drive for a convenience store.

The commission voted 6-3, with members Elizabeth Sembler, Garland Stewart and Thais Escondo opposing, a the request to build a convenience store with gasoline sales at the site.

The property under consideration is owned by Beatrice Flint and Billy Hasty Jr, who were in attendance at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Portions of the property are zoned general commercial and the company is seeking to rezone 4.64 acres of the 7.33 now designated for residential to general commercial.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider the request at 6 p.m. July 24.

Parks Huff, attorney for the company, said with the amount of commercial activity along Highway 20 near Interstate 575, it’s only logical a convenience store is listed.

“There is a need for fueling at that intersection,” he added.

Huff said the company plans to allow direct access onto Highway 20 from a driveway that would be located just before Commerce Boulevard.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has had long-held plans to make improvements to Old Doss Drive, but those are at least two years away.

That would mean drivers could turn left onto Highway 20 toward Commerce Boulevard.

That gave Commissioner Thais Escondo some heartburn, adding she had concerns about the safety of allowing drivers to turn left onto Highway 20 from the store.

Escondo said while she was glad to see more shopping choices open up in Cherokee County, the location of Canton Marketplace has resulted in less than desirable traffic patterns.

“I don’t see how I could support this motion,” she later added.

QuikTrip Corporation last year proposed similar plans on the same site, but withdrew its application in May from consideration by the county commission.

The company’s request was met with opposition from neighbors, who expressed concerns that Old Doss Drive would not be aligned with Commerce Boulevard.