By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—A plan by a Paris businessman to open a motorcycle accessory retail store on a dead-end residential street was reviewed at length by the Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission at its Thursday night meeting.
Chris Willoughby has purchased residential property at 903 Manley Avenue, which is a dead-end spot surrounded by Manley, Third and Tyson. The property currently is zoned B-1 Highway Commercial.
Economic Development Director Jennifer Morris explained the property was made inaccessible from Tyson when TDOT widened the highway and there currently is a concrete retaining wall from this lot to the street level on Tyson.
Morris further explained the property always has been used as residential and accessed by Manley Street. “Several years ago the city quitclaimed the abandoned street to the property owners at that time which mean the abandoned portion of Manley in front of this house is actually part of the parcel.”
Willoughby plans to convert the residence into a retail business selling motorcycle parts and accessories.
Morris noted that the situation is unique since traffic would be entering from a residentially zoned area. She said Willoughby has been advised he will be required to provide the required number of parking spaces and maneuvering area within the lot.
Throughout the discussion, Morris, City Manager Kim Foster and City Attorney Fred McLean cautioned Willoughby that a site plan needs to be formalized and then brought to the planning commission for approval or disapproval. They also cautioned him that it will be expensive for him to produce a site plan and the surveyors may not arrive at a positive conclusion on the plan.
Building Inspector Mike Brown also pointed out that the property may not pass building inspection and may not pass the fire marshal’s inspection.
McLean said, “We don’t want him to labor under a misapprehension and spend bunch of money on engineer plan if there are objections upfront.”
Willoughby said he does not plan to sell motorcycles or repair them at the business. “This will be for accessories and it’s really just something to bring more clientele to our other shops,” he said, noting that his family does sell motorcycles at other locations.
“We’re just making sure you understand the pitfalls and parking is at the top of the list,” McLean told Willoughby.
Foster pointed out to Willoughby that if his plan is approved, that property can’t ever used as a residence and any other business that might go in there would be limited. “You understand that you’re painting yourself in a corner here?” she said.
Willoughby said the building will look a lot better than the residence does now. “We’re cleaning that whole part of the street up. We’ve got a dumpster in front and we’re putting in all new plumbing and it looks a lot better than it has for years.”
Members of the Atkins-Porter Neighborhood Association were at the meeting and voiced concerns with excessive traffic, excessive noise and limited access to the dead-end section of that street.
In other business:
–Randy Scholes tendered his resignation from the planning commission. Scholes and his wife are moving from the area. Planners voiced their sadness at the Scholes’ leaving and thanked them for their impetus in helping to revitalize downtown businesses.
–After much discussion, planners approved an amended zoning ordinance governing self-storage in a B-2 district and continued study of zoning for the downtown business district.
Photo: Chris Willoughby shows his plans to planning commission members Richard Edwards, Rachel Terrell and Randy Scholes. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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