Right-in, right-out variances granted to new Dollar General, Advance Auto Parts
Two developments to take place in western Farragut near Dixie Lee Junction were granted variances regarding driveway distances onto Kingston Pike from Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen Thursday, Dec. 14.
A new Dollar General Store and Advance Auto Parts, planned to be located on the south side of Kingston Pike northeast of the Cool Sports Home of the Icearium, asked for a variance for a right-in, right-out access.
“Originally, the site plan for this project included a full access that did not line up with the Fast Pace Urgent Care access on the north side of Kingston Pike,” Farragut Community Development director Mark Shipley said. “The staff informed the applicant that they could not support this proposed access because the offset could potentially create conflicts in the center turn lane.
“As a result, the site plan was postponed at the October (Municipal) Planning Commission meeting so the applicant could re-visit their access,” Shipley added. “The revised site plan that was approved by the Planning Commission in November provided for a full access that would line up with the Fast Pace Urgent Care.
“As a secondary access from Kingston Pike, the applicant also showed a right-in, right-out access near the western property line. This access would provide eastbound travelers with the ability to access the property before arriving at the full access to the east.”
However, “the proposed right-in, right-out access would be within the 400 feet of separation required for accesses onto arterial streets as provided for in the Driveways and Other Access Ways Ordinance,” Shipley said. “The access would be roughly 317 feet to the west of the full access and roughly 209 feet to the east of a residential driveway on the north side of Kingston Pike.
“Consequently, the applicant asked the Planning Commission to recommend approval of a variance for the proposed right in right out access,” he added. “The Town engineer reviewed this request and recommended approval of the variance since it would provide an additional access option that would not create conflicts in the center turn lane.”
However, “the recommendation was conditioned on the raised curbing being more pronounced to dissuade motorists from turning left (westbound) from this access point,” Shipley said.
