The proposal, submitted by A&F Investments Property, will be considered for approval at the January city council meeting.
The site is situated in an area just south of an existing shopping center on Old Troy Pike, north of Powell Road.
Just east of the site is Donatos Pizza, and to the west is Pine Run Townhomes neighborhood.
City Planner/Assistant City Manager Aaron Sorrell said the city’s comprehensive plan for the area is focused on “incremental improvements of both residential areas,” and “improving the aesthetics of the neighborhoods and streets.”
“The (comprehensive) plan also recognizes that most commercial uses along this corridor, or specifically in this area, are smaller shops that largely or predominately serve neighborhood needs and are less so of regional attraction,” Sorrell said.
These guidelines make the site less compatible with the opening of a car sales lot, Sorrell opined.
Additionally, Sorrell said that given nearby zoning, half of the property would not meet the requirements for screening and buffering necessary to facilitate auto sales.
“... (T)he buffering requirements from the adjacent R-6 District would render nearly half of the site unusable for vehicle sales and service,” Sorrell said. “Therefore, staff is recommending denial of the rezoning request.”
A spokesman of A&F Investments was present at the December planning commission meeting and said he intends to “invest in this lot.”
“It didn’t seem like (the previous owner) cared about the lot, and the idea behind it is I’m trying to bring more traffic, more business, and I think a car lot could do great for that area,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said he plans to sell only higher end vehicles that are not older than four or five years and with low mileage.
“... (W)e’re not trying to bring in junk cars; we want to bring in nice vehicles and make the lot look nice,” he said.
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