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PrintA proposal for a central city grocery store to be located at the corner of Garth Avenue and Sexton Road isn’t dead, but the Planning and Zoning Commission didn’t do it any favors Thursday night.
The commission voted 6-1 to deny rezoning of the proposed area. The plan, put forth by Covenant Community Development Corp., would have rezoned the area to planned commercial, or C-P, zoning. The plan calls for seven apartments and 19,000 square feet of retail space, including an Alp’s grocery store and several locally-owned shops.
But, according to the commission, nearby residents simply raised too many problems.
“It’s a location that just has too much going against it,” commission chairman Jerry Wade said.
At its Saturday meeting, the Ridgeway Neighborhood Association, which abuts the site, voted to not support the development.
Association member Dana Cullimore said the city is working on new storm-water regulations that could take effect as soon as this fall. The guidelines call for more water gardens and green spaces in parking lots. The proposed development would not meet these new regulations, which Cullimore said is one reason to hold off on the project.
The presence of large delivery trucks in such a compact area also troubled Ridgeway residents. City staff members said in a report that 18-wheelers could not maneuver in the proposed parking lot, but that “single unit” trucks, similar to the ones used by the United Parcel Service, could.
Other concerns include alcohol sales at the site, lighting in the parking lot and the traffic the development would bring to the intersection.
Several commissioners said that the development’s size was simply too large.
“I think this is too much (development) on this corner,” Commissioner Charles Lamb said.
Another key point raised by commissioners was the level of animosity at Thursday’s public hearing between Covenant and nearby residents.
“Where’s the ‘community’ part of community development in this?” Commissioner Glenn Rice asked.
Rice added that he supports a grocery store in the central city, but he doesn’t feel Garth and Sexton is the appropriate place for one.
The proposal was tabled at the June 8 and July 6 commission meetings. Both times, commissioners told the two sides to get together to work out differences. After Thursday’s rezoning denial, the proposal would still go before the City Council, but it will be without the commission’s approval.
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