Maryville council and BZA approve restaurant relocation, church use, LED sign and a large gathering permit

At its Sept. 9 meeting the Maryville planning and zoning staff and council moved multiple land-use items forward: a special-exception approval for a restaurant relocation, a use-variance to allow a church in an M-2 limited industrial overlay, a conditional variance to permit an LED message center sign, and a large-gathering permit for a fundraising bowling tournament.

Petitioner Maria D. Garderno Hernandez requested a special exception under Section 21-136 to relocate Angie's Breakfast & Grill from 6740 Broadway into an existing 2,400-square-foot building at 6760 Broadway in a C-3 highway commercial district. Staff said the new location will provide an 88-seat dining room, a party room and a drive-through; hours were presented as 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and the business currently employs five people. The council approved the special exception by roll call (five in favor).

Pastor Tyrone Brown sought a variance of use under Section 21-136 to locate a church at 6121 Broadway on a 20.606-acre parcel zoned M-2 limited industrial overlay. The petitioner told the council the congregation has about 27 members and uses the building after standard business hours; council members discussed the longstanding M-2 zoning and noted the property owner wants to meet with town staff about rezoning. The council approved the variance by roll call (five in favor); staff emphasized the approval applied only to this petitioner at this location for this use.

A representative for petitioner Ahmad Zawl sought a variance under Section 21-189.8 to install a two-sided 8-by-4 LED message center on an existing 6-by-10 sign at a C-3 highway commercial site (total sign area reported as 92 square feet). The board read into the record a remonstrator letter from neighbors (the Colemans) who said prior lighting on the property had blared into their backyard and bedroom windows. The board approved the LED with a condition requiring the sign to be turned off after close of business; staff said the display includes an automatic dimmer that reduces output to 10% at night.

Separately, the council approved a large-gathering permit for the Saint Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral bowling tournament at the Stardust Bowl Oct. 4-5. The application lists expected attendance of 200 to 300 people per day, portable toilets, drinking water, trash dumpsters and alcohol sales under existing liquor and catering licenses; security will be provided by Centurion Security Agency.

All zoning approvals were identified as limited to the petitioner and location specified, and each vote was recorded by roll call. Conditions and hours were attached where staff or remonstrators requested them.