|
Tire store request
denied by Fayetteville P&Z
By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com
Despite claims that a proposed Big 10 Tires store on the western end of
Fayetteville would merely be a retail store and should be treated as such,
the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission disagreed and voted last
week to deny a request for a special exception.
Big 10 Tires traditionally offers general tire maintenance services, such
as putting your tires on your car after you purchase them, although such
services are mainly for tire buyers and not advertised to the general
public, according to attorney George Rosenzweig, who represented the applicants
at the meeting.
Rosenzweig said that despite these ancillary services, the store should
be seen and treated mainly as a retail tire outlet. “The fact that
people go into an Amoco and buy beer and hot dogs does not make it a beer
joint or a restaurant,” he said.
The site in question is at the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and LeMans Drive.
Adjoining properties, zoned C-3 as this site is, include a Waffle House,
a convenience store and office complexes.
City staff recommended denial based on the proposed use’s incompatibility
with the city’s future land use plan.
Reading from the city’s ordinance, Rosenzweig said that C-3 zoning
allows “auto, truck, mobile home, recreational vehicle, heavy equipment,
boats, and related service and maintenance facilities.” He said that
these uses are available “as a matter of right.”
Saying that C-3 is classified by the city as “highly commercial,”
he pointed out that Carolyn Ford, which was the subject of an unrelated
item earlier in the meeting, mentioned having a service department that
uses up to 100 parking spaces on its lot each day, also in this zoning
classification.
Rosenzweig said that as he reads the land use plan, the area is earmarked
for “community commercial,” but some uses already in the area
such as Auto Zone do not fall into that category. “The land use plan
is not set in concrete,” he said.
Some residents previously aired concerns about possible noise problems
stemming from the use of pneumatic tools and other items commonly found
in tire service centers. Rosenzweig said that after checking out the site,
he found the noise from the highway itself to be far louder than whatever
Big 10 Tires could produce, and he suggested that motorists traveling
that stretch of road would probably not be distracted by the activities
of the tire store.
“This is logical for this site,” he said of the proposal for
the property.
There was no public comment on the issue.
Commissioner Allen Feldman said that he felt the group should follow the
city’s land use plan. Rosenzweig agreed that Feldman’s point
was a valid one, but added that the zoning, which he said is already compatible
for the use, has the force of law.
Nevertheless, Feldman moved to deny, and was seconded by
Al Lipscomb. The motion passed 3-0, with Sarah Murphy abstaining.
The applicant now has the option of appealing the decision to the City
Council.
Back
to News Home Page
| Back
to the top of the page
|
