by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Following a lengthy discussion about procedure at the Feb. 4 Monteagle Planning Commission meeting, the commission tasked town planner Jonathan Rush with drafting an ordinance amendment allowing retail and commercial businesses in C-3 commercial zones. Rejection of Dollar General’s request to locate a store in a C-3 zone prompted Monteagle Alderman Dean Lay to push for the amendment. Dollar General’s location choice, in the C-3 area around I-24 interstate exit 135, primarily has businesses of the convenience-store and truck stop-variety, which C-3 zoning allows.

“Why can there be truck stops in C-3 and not something else that sells retail?” asked Lay. “It’s government overreach.” At the January council meeting, Lay made a motion to allow retail in C-3. Mayor Greg Maloof advised Lay to take the request to the planning commission.

Rush explained zoning ordinance amendments could originate in three ways: the council could formally request the planning commission to amend an ordinance, which amendment would then be submitted to the council for final approval; the planning commission could recommend an ordinance amendment and send it to the council for final approval; a resident could make a formal application for a zoning ordinance change.

“I need more information,” said Commission Vice Chair Richard Black, objecting to voting immediately on Lay’s request for allowing retail in C-3.

Commissioner Alec Mosley concurred, arguing he wanted to see the amendment request from the council, “somebody needs to put something down on a piece of paper ... I want to know why, what the argument is for retail in C-3.”

“I think there’s probably a reason it [retail] is not in there [allowed],” Black insisted.

Lay pushed for a vote on retail in C-3 that evening.

Rush said he would need to draft an amendment for the commission to vote on.

Alderman Grant Fletcher suggested the commission ask Rush to draft the amendment rather than waiting for a formal request from the council. Rush agreed, pointing out waiting for the council’s formal request would delay the process for another month.

“All you would be doing is delaying a decision you will need to make,” said developer Jessie Goodman, who has plans for a residential development across from the National Guard Armory. “You deter a lot of developers by delaying decisions.”

The commission unanimously approved a motion for Rush to draft an amendment allowing retail in C-3. The commission will vote on whether to approve or deny the amendment at the March 4 meeting.

The commission also approved a plat combining three lots into two lots. One lot is tagged for the proposed Hampton Inn and the other for future development. In January, the commission tabled approval of the Hampton Inn site plan, because a plat had not been approved or presented which conformed to the project’s footprint.

Black announced Ed Provost had stepped down as chair for health reasons. The commission elected Black chair, Mosley vice chair, and reelected Katie Trahan as secretary.

Beginning in March, the commission will meet at 4 p.m., rather than 5 p.m.