Bigger fuel center at Costco gets unanimous FMPC nod
Costco got the go-ahead from Farragut Municipal Planning Commission on its site plan to expand its fuel center at 10745 Kingston Pike during FMPC’s meeting Thursday, Jan. 16.
Very little discussion ensued after Farragut Community Development director Mark Shipley described the project. FMPC unanimously approved the request.
“This item involves a request for approval of a site plan to add six new fuel pump islands and associated site related work for the Costco,” he said. “As part of this project, five existing trees will need to be removed.
“They do have a pretty substantial landscape plan for the area that’s affected by this expansion,” he added.
The site plan “includes a plan for the replacement of the trees and additional landscaping adjacent to the Lovell Road frontage,” Shipley said. “There will be no change to the parking lot or other paved areas outside the fuel center.
“We’ve got the existing 2-feet bays here,” he added, indicating the bays on the map. “They’re adding another column of guest pump islands to the east toward Lovell Road.
“The expansion would include three new fuel pump islands to the south of existing islands and a new row of three fuel pump islands to the east of existing islands closest to Lovell Road. As a customer, I think this is a much needed request.
Shipley said staff recommended approval of the site plan “subject to the following conditions being satisfactory addressed:”
• Ensure that the proposed curbline is at least 20 feet from the Lovell Road right-of-way.
• The landscape plan requires a separate application and a review and approval from the Visual Resources Review Board.
• On Sheet SE of the site plan, label the property line, properly date the seal and include the height of the proposed light poles associated with the expansion, as they are planning to add light poles.
• Regarding obtaining a building permit for the project, Shipley said they have submitted an application for the permit.
• For any modifications to signage, they will require a separate application and approval by VRRB.
Additionally, Planning Commissioner Noah Myers observed, “It looks like the impervious surface is going to increase by about 5,000 square feet. Are they still under the 70 percent threshold in the district?”
“Yes they are,” Shipley said.
“We just don’t want to create something that is, then, nonconforming, and we’re putting them in violation of their lot coverage,” Myers said.
“They’ve got a really big (water) detention area,” Shipley said. “And they’ve got a greenway that wraps around the property.”
