In a bit of news that flew under the radar, VPD/Terra Commerce Development, which acquired the former Atlanta Dragway property in 2021, was denied its Planned Unit Development (PUD) request by the Banks County Commission in early February, adding some uncertainty to the future of the redevelopment. But could it pave the way for a return of the sights and sounds of race cars? Well, the answer may not be a definitive “no.”

VPD/Terra Commerce Development purchased the 318-acre Atlanta Dragway from the National Hot Rod Association, with plans to develop the land into a mixed-use residential and commercial space. The proposal included 1,193 single and multi-family residential units, along with 336,000 square feet of traditional retail commercial space.

As reporter Jerry Neace of Now Habersham reported in February, the development was submitted to the Georgia Regional Mountain Commission for review, known as a developments of regional impact (DRI). While the review was approved, VPD/Terra Commerce Development would have to find sufficient utility capacity for the development, namely water and sewer. A zoning official noted at a commission meeting on February 11 that the plan did not meet the county’s current service delivery strategy, requiring significantly more water than the county can provide; it’s influx of residents and patrons would also impact traffic for schools and businesses. That information, paired with input shared by local residents at a public hearing, ultimately led to a denial of the application.

A source tells us that VPD/Terra Commerce Development has taken steps to appeal the decision. Over the course of recent months, there has reportedly been private-party interest in drag racing operations expressed in the facility, leaving some glimmer of hope despite the relatively long odds of the property returning to market.

The three-story Atlanta Dragway timing tower was razed in December of 2022, and the most recent Google Maps imagery from 2023 showed only a few outbuildings and the concrete retaining walls remaining. However, with some sizable but not insurmountable investment, the basic infrastructure and space for a quarter-mile dragstrip is there.