Biz pair seek western sector of Town for new location: Staff/Planners
Two businesses approached Town officials about locating in Farragut’s western sector during a Town Staff/Planner meeting Tuesday, Oct. 31.
PALS Knoxville is looking to renovate the former Jones Automotive, 314 N. Watt Road, beside Sedgefield Road, across from Mayor Bob Leonard Park, while Dogtopia Dog Day Care wants to build a new facility at 12925 Kingston Pike, between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ soon-to-be Knoxville Tennessee Temple and Christ Covenant Church.
“We’re excited to come to Farragut,” PALS Knoxville owner Adam White said. “We want to make our neighbors happy.”
“As long as they don’t know you’re there, then you’re good to go,” Mayor Ron Williams said. “I’m looking forward to you guys being open.”
These businesses will join other new businesses moving into western Farragut, such as Dunkin’ Donuts, a yet-to-be-named grocery store, Advance Auto Parts and a second Dollar General Store, as well as the Kingston Villages development.
White plans to renovate and expand the former Jones Automotive building, using thin brick to improve the building’s appearance.
While PALS does have car sales and repair services in some of its locations, he said the Watt Road location will only do auto repair. “That’s great because we don’t have car sales of any sort in the Town of Farragut,” Williams said.
After looking at staff’s comments and construction costs, Brad Salsbury, with S&M, said his team made adjustments to their site plan for PALS Knoxville.
“Adam (White) and his team made the decision we’re no longer doing the expansion off the front,” Salisbury said. “We’re basically going to the backside of the building and do a 15-foot expansion off the back … reduce the changes in the parking, take out a lot of grading issues.”
Town Community Development director Mark Shipley said the existing Jones Automotive building does not comply with the Town’s architectural guidelines.
“The main thing the (Farragut) Municipal Planning Commission looks at, when you modify a non-compliant building, is the modification brings it more into compliance with the guidelines,” he said, asking about the metal siding.
Williams suggested using hardy plank instead of metal siding.
“Probably, the addition needs to be brick,” Shipley added.
Salsbury asked about using “thin brick” as the masonry on the concrete block.
“(White is) wanting to dress (the concrete block) up, make it more appealing,” Salsbury said. “When (the thin brick) is used, it looks like a brick building.”
“That should be fine,” Shipley said.
“It’s definitely an upgrade to what’s out there (now),” Williams said.
The staff and FMPC members also looked at lighting.
“I don’t think we will have pole lights,” White said. “Instead, they are just using wall lights.”
Concerning the other business, Town staff and planners heard from Brad Sharp of Urban Engineering, who described plans to construct a new facility for the dog day care business just to the west of Christ Covenant Church and east of the Temple.
Jeremiah Webb with Dogtopia, which made its Knox County debut with Dogtopia-Bearden, said the Town facility offers boarding and a spa. “We plan to do one more (location) in Knoxville,” he said.
“Can I go for the spa?” FMPC member Jon Greene asked, eliciting laughter.
“The closest type of use for this would be … a kennel,” Shipley said. “There are certain provisions associated with kennels that are specific to that use, so they’ve had to modify a little bit.
“One of the requirements is that the outdoor fenced area is at least 50 feet from the nearest property line,” he added. “This is right at 50.”
“Since this is a new building, it will have to be 75 percent masonry,” Shipley said. He also noted the small site presents challenges.
Still, “they’re making good use out of that property,” Williams said.
“It’s a good-looking building to me,” Shipley said.
