Council hears neighborhood traffic concerns over Take 5/Line Avenue Collision rezoning; MPC approval stands but traffic study requested

Council members and residents raised traffic and notice concerns about a rezoning and special-use permit for a vehicle service use on Line Avenue that would allow Line Avenue Collision and a Take 5 oil-change outlet to operate at a new site.

Fred Kent, a property owner who said Take 5 averages low traffic for an oil-change use, and Ben Walker, representing property interests, asked the council to consider the site plan and noted the item will appear on the council agenda. Several council members said community members in multiple neighborhoods told them they received inadequate notice and are worried about traffic at the intersection of Ellerbe Road and the proposed driveway.

Metropolitan Planning Commission deputy director Steven Jean reviewed the MPC process and said the MPC unanimously approved the special-use request (8–1 vote indicated earlier) and that a neighborhood meeting was held; he said some attendees raised noise and access questions that were addressed through conditions attached to the conditional zoning.

Councilman Butcher and other members said the principal outstanding concern is traffic, noting that nearby intersections already back up at peak hours and that a full traffic study would validate whether the proposed use would create a hazard. Jean and staff said the use is a relatively low traffic generator compared with other permitted uses but acknowledged there was not a full traffic study; council members asked staff whether the matter could be returned to MPC for reconsideration with a traffic study and additional conditions.

No final council vote was recorded at the work session; staff told members that the item will come up on tomorrow’s agenda and that council could request MPC reconsideration or require a traffic study before final action.