Overruling a staff recommendation, city planners voted Monday to recommend approval of a special exceptions permit for a RaceTrac gas station and convenience store at South Broad and 25th streets.
Philip Cochran, senior engineering project manager for RaceTrac, worked with the South Broad Redevelopment Group to come up with a design that he said consists of 40 percent green space and should create 12 jobs in the area.
“We’ve put our best foot forward today,” said Mr. Cochran, who said the store could generate $500,000 in tax revenue.
RaceTrac representatives want to move forward on the project, but didn’t say when it would open if it receives City Council approval.
Members of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission were poised to defer the application for 30 days pending several changes to enhance the proposed station’s appearance, with a motion made and seconded, but changed their minds.
RaceTrac representative John Gardener informed the panel that this would be RaceTrac’s last offer, as the company’s contract on the property would expire within 60 days.
Mike Langley, who had seconded the motion to defer, then led with a motion to approve RaceTrac’s request.
“We’ve looked at a lot of convenience stores for this property,” said Mr. Langley, “But none have taken the care in putting together a proposal like we have here.”
He and other panel members recommended adding an iron fence or brick wall to the property’s perimeter. They also recommended adding landscaping to the rear, since the building is the first structure motorists exiting off the Interstate 24 would see on their way to Lookout Mountain.
The commission staff’s recommendation to deny or defer the special exceptions permit for the vacant lot came because the gas station will sit back 100 feet from the road rather than the required 15 feet as envisioned in the South Broad Redevelopment Plan.