TIFTON — The City of Tifton has established a moratorium on allowing developments of convenience stores until Sept. 20.

The restriction will prevent convenience stores from seeking permitting on less than 5,500 square feet of a building for the next 120 days.

City manager Emily Beeman requested the moratorium on behalf of a coalition of city staff, the Downtown Development Authority, and the city economic developer Abby McLaren, who felt concern over the current influx of convenience stores the city was experiencing.

Beeman explained that the city currently does not have very clear guidelines for the design standards of convenience stores, creating a good deal of leeway for how these stores would be allowed to look or what zones they would be able to be located in. She requested that the city council work to develop a clearer set of policies regarding the development of convenience stores during the 120-day period.

Should the council develop this plan before the moratorium expires, they will be able to lift the ban at that time.