Officials with RaceTrac convenience stores are putting the finishing touches on a site plan for a new gas station along Ga. 400.

According to recent plans submitted to Dawson County’s planning and zoning office, the 12-pump station and accompanying store would sit on 1 acre at the corner of the highway and Whitmire Drive.

“We provided RaceTrac over a year and a half ago information on this project,” said Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County.

Auvermann, who spent more than two decades in the fuel industry, said the some 25,000 vehicles that travel Ga. 400 south each morning were a factor in RaceTrac’s interest.   

“This station not only brings a competitive product to this county and a quality company to this county, but provides us the opportunity that in the daytime morning commute we have a very good access for a commercial facility to bring a tax base into this county,” Auvermann told the county planning board last week.

Attorney Jim Hamilton submitted RaceTrac’s application for a variance to reduce the setback of the station’s canopy to 60 feet to better accommodate fuel tankers entering the property.

“I think it would be a good situation for the county to let RaceTrac come in here and give them a chance to be a good neighbor,” Hamilton said.

The proposal met with the approval of the planning board, whose recommendation goes to the Dawson County commission, which could decide the matter in mid-November.

RaceTrac operates more than 525 retail gasoline stores in 12 Southeastern states.