By Shannon McFarlin
Paris, Tenn.–Meeting in lengthy session Thursday night, the Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission recommended conditional approval of two site plans: a minor site plan for a restaurant to be located at 1008 E. Wood Street and a major site plan for a business development to be located at 1335 E. Wood Street.
The minor site plan is for Randy Crowder of Paris, who is planning construction a restaurant–to be called ‘Oaklawn’ –at the intersection of E. Wood and Tyson Avenue. the development of a restaurant in the existing 2,700 square foot structure.
The major site plan is for Jamie Orr, who plans a business development at 1335 E. Wood St. near Fairgrounds Rd.
Orr told RadioNWTN in early September he will be constructing a two-story commercial structure at the site which will have room for three businesses: a branch of the Holley Credit Union, Orr’s investment firm, and possibly a restaurant in the third space of the development.
After lengthy discussion on the Crowder site plan, the commission recommended approval by the city, contingent on paving of the parking area be completed in a year, a barrier of vegetation and/or fencing along a residential gravel driveway and parking areas, and TDOT approval of the islands for the right in/right out entrance.
City Community Development Director Jennifer Morris said Crowder was in the process of making application to TDOT for the driveway permit and it had been confirmed verbally by TDOT he would not be allowed to keep the existing drive that circles through from Currier.
Morris reminded the commission that because Wood Street is a state highway, TDOT has jurisdiction over it.
On the Orr major site plan, it was recommended for city approval contingent on Orr addressing vegetation barriers along property lines and drainage issues.
Morris said the site plan shows a 4,000 square foot building to be divided into two 2,000 sq. ft. spaces and shows another 3,000 square foot for future development.
The plan shows a total of 67 parking spaces which is “more than adequate”, Morris said. All travel lanes and driveway widths are according to code.
The plan shows a proposed access drive on both E. Wood and Jean Streets with an existing entrance on East Wood. The drives shown on East Wood would depend on an approved permit from TDOT.
The property formerly was a used car lot and, more recently, a tire service center. The property has been cleared by Orr in preparing for the development.
In other business:
–After lengthy discussion, the commission approved a zoning ordinance amendment addressing walls and fences. City planners felt the ordinance needed to be updated to address the types of fencing and vegetation barriers which are in use now and which were not addressed in the earlier ordinance.
Photo: Randy Crowder points out areas on the minor site plan for his proposed restaurant. (Shannon McFarlin photo)