By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At a busy meeting Thursday night, the Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission began the process of addressing the outside accumulation of tires at local businesses. The commission also recommended the City Commission amend a zoning ordinance to allow a carwash to locate on Mineral Wells Avenue.
After lengthy discussion on the tire accumulation issue, planners directed city staff to prepare recommendations that would amend the city’s conditional uses to limit the amount of tires that can be accumulated outside of businesses.
City Community Planning Director Jennifer Morris noted that the city has struggled with the accumulation of tires in both business settings as well as industrial and even residential settings. “This is not only unsightly but a health hazard as well,” she said.
With an East Wood Street property that currently houses a garage that sells a large amount of tires ready to vacate the premises, city officials said it would be a good time to revisit the issue.
City Manager Kim Foster noted that the accumulation of tires outside collects water which draws mosquitoes and vermin and needs to be monitored.
At the same time, she said, the city wouldn’t want “to do something quickly that inadvertently hurts legitimate businesses–but we do need to do something.”
Planning Commission members directed Foster and Morris to return to a future meeting with more recommendations to tackle the issue.
In other business:
–The planners recommended to the city commission the amendment of the zoning ordinance Table of Uses to allow a car wash in an SC1 Zoning District.
John Lapointe of Brightwork Real Estate, representing Tidal Wave Auto Space, contacted the city regarding the use of a car wash on an outparcel on Mineral Wells Ave. in front of Walmart Supercenter.
Foster noted that representatives of Tidal Wave had intended to be present at the meeting, but were stuck in Minneapolis. “They are invested and interested in locating here, but just couldn’t get here today.”
At last week’s City Commission meeting, commissioners referred the request to the planners for their recommendation. The request will still need to receive first and second approval by the city and a public hearing will need to be held.
Foster noted that the state most probably will not allow the car wash entrance and exit to be located on Mineral Wells Ave., but instead will probably have to be located in the Walmart parking lot. Tidal Wave also will need to receive approval from Walmart.
–The commission recommended approval of a minor site plan presented by the Paris Utility Authority for construction of an Accessory Building at its Hwy. 218 Bypass facility.
–The commission recommended approval of a request to acquire an undeveloped alley on Chickasaw Road.
–The commission recommended approval of a minor site plan allowing an additional parking lot to the building owned by Chris Scott at the intersection of Manley and Tyson Avenues.
Photo: Planners at work at tonight’s session. (Shannon McFarlin photo).