Speedway Gas Station Submits Two Zoning Appeals For S Jefferson Avenue Work

Speedway Corporation has submitted two variance appeals for their new 10-pump gas station and convenience store on South Jefferson Avenue.

Cookeville Planning Director Jon Ward said the two appeals are to expand their access point on South Jefferson Avenue and to exceed parking lot grades.

“It’s a redevelopment of several properties there,” Ward said. “I mean they’re putting together several, I think it’s four or five, properties that are included in this. It would be a demo of several structures to develop the approximately 5,000 square feet convenience store.”

Ward said Cookeville’s current codes state that access points should not exceed 40 feet. He said that Speedway is requesting to expand their access point to 50 feet to match up lanes with Wal-Mart and grant safer truck access.

Ward said there is significant grade change across the parking lot, and Speedway has asked to exceed Cookeville’s 5 percent grade change code.

“In parking lots throughout the zoning code requires a maximum grade of five percent,” Ward said. “You don’t want to try opening car doors on steep grades, it creates issues there. It creates safety issues getting in and out of your car, things like that.”

Ward said that Speedway is asking to exceed that grade in some areas due to some significant issues with the grade changing across the lot. He said while it isn’t noticeable just looking at the area, the significance becomes apparent when taking a deeper look.

Ward said that appealing to the Zoning Appeals Board is Speedway’s next step in their process. He said that should the board approve the appeals, they will move on from there. The Zoning Appeals Board meets Thursday, August 12th at 5:15 p.m.