FMPC unanimously approves measures
The Farragut Municipal Planning Commission unanimously decided to work with a proposed O’Reiley’s location on improving its architecture while also approving a plat of correction for Phase II of the Cottages at Pryse Farm subdivision and discussing rezoning on Turkey Creek Road, changes to distance from the road for businesses, mixed use neighborhoods and the 2017 Capital Investment Plan.
They met on April 19.
The FMPC unanimously approved a variance from the Driveways and other Accessways Ordinance for a future O’Reiley’s Auto Parts store on 1080 Kingston Pike. The minimum separation between accesses on an arterial street is 400 feet according to Farragut’s ordinances. As proposed, the right out access is roughly 200 feet from the existing Thornton Drive access point and at a slight offset to the Newport Road access on the north side of Kingston Pike.
Noah Myers drafted a motion for staff to work with the applicant, Site Infrastructure Transportation Engineers Incorporated, to create a rendering closer to an O’Reiley’s store in Grove City, Ohio. The FMPC unanimously approved Myers’s motion.
“The closer you get to that Grove City rendering, the happier I’ll be, but I understand that maybe that’s not appropriate for the context of this situation for whatever reason,” said Myers.
The FMPC discussed amending the front yard setbacks in all commercial zoning districts. The proposed changes would allow developers to build buildings up to 20 feet from the front property line.
Noah Myers said the change would make it easier for developers to put parking lots in the back or sides rather than the front. He said it would push traffic conflicts further back from the road.
“Let’s emphasize our architecture and not our parking areas,” he said.
“My concern is moving closer and higher we could have a potential for canyon type effects,” said Ed St. Clair.
Mark Shipley led a discussion about mixed-use neighborhoods. He shared pictures and guidelines from the Village Mixed Use District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The examples combined residential areas with small-scale retail and offices, sometimes in the same building, while keeping small-town style architecture and featuring green space.
“If you want an opportunity to be able to live closer to where you work, well, here’s your opportunity,” said Shipley, describing the appeal.
“I like the idea, but I have the question in my mind as to whether or not Farragut is large enough to support such businesses,” said Rose Ann Kile.
The FMPC unanimously approved a plat of correction for Phase II of the Cottages at Pryse Farm Subdivision. The earlier plat had building envelopes overlapping with graded drainage ways. The new plan involves moving building envelopes toward the street and away from the drainage ways. Ashley Miller, assistant community development director, said the change was “minor.”
Gary Palmer, assistant Town manager, presented to the FMPC about the Capital Investment Plan. Sue Stuhl, Parks and Leisure Services director, and Darryl Smith, Town engineer, also spoke. The FMPC unanimously approved it.
