The Starkville planning and zoning commission Tuesday approved a rezoning and conditional use request by Sonic Drive-In to construct a parking lot behind its restaurant at Highway 12 and Vine Street.
The planning and zoning commission, which acts in an advisory capacity to the city”s Board of Aldermen, approved the change from an R-3 multi-family residential zone to a B-1 buffer zone with a 4 to 2 vote. Parking lots are allowed in a buffer zone as a conditional use, but are not allowed in an R-3 zone.
The conditional use request also passed 4-2. Only planning and zoning commission members Ira Loveless and John Moore voted against the requests.
Sonic plans to build a parking lot in the vacant lot south of the drive-in on Vine Street. Sonic also plans to move a small storage building and Dumpster from the edge of Vine Street to the back corner of the new parking lot.
The planning and zoning commission Tuesday also approved a final condominium plat for phase two of Belle Grove Condominiums, which encompasses 19 units at 300 River Road.
Additionally, planning and zoning commission members Tuesday approved a final subdivision plat for Residence Place, a planned four-lot commercial development located on roughly 5.7 acres at the former Coca Cola plant on Highway 12, just east of the Middleton Court shopping center. Three of the lots along Highway 12 would be used for retail and restaurant projects, while the fourth lot in the rear would be used for a hotel.
The third plat approved Tuesday by the planning and zoning commission, though only a preliminary plat, was for a proposed 29.35-acre, 72-home subdivision at 800 Reed Road. Garry Hughes submitted the request for construction of single-family homes.
The Starkville Board of Aldermen on Dec. 21 is expected to vote on the three plats approved Tuesday by the planning and zoning commission. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. The Sonic rezoning and conditional use request will go before aldermen Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.
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