Residents voice disapproval on Dunnavant Square development
A request to approve the site plan for a neighborhood grocery and convenience store drew discussion from residents at the Aug. 3 Shelby County Planning Commission meeting.
Bill Thornton of Dunnavant Commercial LLC submitted a request for approval of the site plan in a special district. The development of a grocery store, convenience store and gas pumps was first approved as a part of the master plan in 2008.
The modified site plan changed the orientation of the three gas pumps from being located behind the convenience store to being closer to the road. This change was made following concerns voiced at the April 20 commission meeting.
According to the plan, the convenience store would be approximately 2,400 square feet and the grocery store would be 24,555 square feet.
Residents who spoke at the meeting said their concern was not with the development but with a proposed road, connecting a neighboring subdivision to County Road 41.
Shane Martin, a resident of Wicklow Lane – behind the proposed project – requested the road be blocked off in order to protect the children and residents of his neighborhood.
“A sidewalk right here would be brilliant. … A road simply opens up traffic for trucks and non-residents that won’t have a watchful eye with the children,” Martin said. “That’s what we’re requesting – not that the development stop.”
Another resident provided the commission with a packet of information he had collected, including a petition signed by residents neighboring the development. He said there are 65 houses in his neighborhood, and 50 residents – some living in the same household – signed the petition against the road.
He also said residents of the 13 houses closest to the proposed connecting road were against it, and they would be the ones to benefit most. Commissioner Rachel Garrett said that other neighbors might choose to use the road, as it provides a way to fill up on gas before getting on County Road 41.
Chairman Jim Davis noted the request before the commission only covered the orientation of the gas pumps and convenience store and did not have an effect on the roadway.
“There’s still a lot of X’s to be put in boxes for the developer to come back and present,” Davis said.
Senior planner Sharman Brooks said the master plan for the project included the preliminary plat for the roadway, and the developer would have to present an alternate plan for approval if the road was removed.
“[The developer] He’s got wheels in motion for a certain design,” said civil engineer John Slaughter. “Because he’s got that master plan approved, it’s a big deal to eliminate something off that master plan.”
The commission approved the request for the site plan approval. In regard to the road, Slaughter said the ball is in the developer’s court.