Planning commission approves grocery store site plan
The site plan for a neighborhood grocery across the street from Mt Laurel was approved by the Shelby County Planning Commission.
Bill Thornton with Dunnavant Commercial LLC submitted the request. The site plan includes plans for a 2,400-square-foot convenience store with three gas pumps and a 24,550-square-foot boutique-style grocery store. There is no confirmed tenant for the grocery store at this time.
The Dunnavant Square development was last discussed at the Aug. 3 Shelby County Planning Commission meeting, when the commission approved a change in orientation of the three gas pumps.
At the Aug. 3 meeting, some residents requested removing one of the planned roads, which currently connects the neighborhood behind the development to Dunnavant Valley Road. There were no changes to the road in the site plan at the Nov. 16 meeting.
After principal planner Kristine Goddard presented the site plan and request, commissioners had questions regarding the barrier between residents and the proposed development.
At this time, the plan includes a fence and landscaped barrier between the service station and residential area, and there is a berm and landscaped barrier behind the grocery store.
Commissioner Rachel Garrett said she was concerned the noise 18-wheelers making deliveries early in the morning might disturb residents.
“That noise, yeah, that could impact people on the other side if there’s not more of a buffer,” Garrett said.
Garrett said she would like to see a privacy fence similar to the one at the service station behind the grocery store. David Stovall with Engineering Design Group spoke for Dunnavant Commercial and said there will be an 8- to 10-foot berm with dense landscaping behind the development.
“On top, there’s just very dense vegetation that would be on top of that berm which we think will be more substantial than a fence, especially with the noise side of things,” Stovall said.
Goddard also noted the backs of the houses face the grocery store.
The commission also discussed requiring a sidewalk connection on both sides of the grocery store. Plans included a sidewalk on the left side from the building, looking from Dunnavant Valley Road, but not on the right side.
Following discussion, commissioner Bob Land made a motion to approve the request, noting the developer has complied with several of the commission’s past requests for alterations. Commissioner Amy Smith asked for an amendment to the motion, adding the requirement of a sidewalk and a privacy fence in the grocery store’s plans.
Land asked for the staff’s opinion on the amendment, and Goddard said she was “halfway” on whether it was needed or not. One issue with requiring a sidewalk, Goddard said, was that when the proposed bank is developed next door, the sidewalk would be torn up.
Land decided not to amend the motion and repeated his former motion for approval as is. The commission voted five to one, approving the request. Smith voted against approval.
In other news, the commission:
- Approved the request to divide 67.07 acres at the end of Highland Lakes Court into 48 residential lots. The lots will house single family homes, and the property includes an 11.6 acre lake. The development will be known as Highland Lakes Sector One, Phase 6.
- Approved the request from Colt Reese for conditional use approval to allow a Little Bit of R & R BBQ sales location outside of the Raceway at 5349 U.S. 280, near Walmart. The commission approved the request five to one, with Smith voting against approval.
- Approved the 2016 Planning Commission meeting schedule.