The Cookeville Board of Zoning Appeals granted a drive-thru width variance for a proposed coffee shop on Willow Avenue across from the new Home Depot/Target.
Community Development Director Jon Ward said the Board of Zoning Appeals postponed a decision in August after the developer proposed a nine-foot-wide bypass lane, which did not meet the 12-foot-wide requirement. Ward said this time the petitioner brought forward a 10-foot-wide bypass lane. Ward said that only a portion of the bypass lane would not meet the city’s requirement.
“The board heard the request, and you know, based on the site plan that was provided,” Ward said. “They saw merits in the request, and you know, they granted a variance to reduce that width for a small portion on the southern side of the building.”
Ward said the variance approval comes with additional conditions, such as providing signage indicating the lane width and prohibiting wide vehicles. Ward said the bypass lane will not pose any issues for the average vehicle.
“It should be able to accommodate vehicles to get around there,” Ward said. ” You know, we have streets that are 20 feet in width in the city. So you know, I think it will be something that will function.”
Ward said he believes the board also considered future development when reviewing the ordinance. Ward said it is important that the board ensure that they don’t grant a variance that could be detrimental to future development.
“What’s being developed over there is very important that it meets the standards, right,” Ward said. “I mean, we review everything, but there is a variance procedure that allows a developer to petition the board to consider a variance from the regulations. And they have some topographic issues there that they, you know, that they brought up with some retaining walls being built and things like that to try to accommodate this use.”
The variance will not require approval from the city council or another committee. The Cookeville Board of Zoning Appeals approved the variance on Thursday.
