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Decatur planning board weighs 13-space parking variance for proposed Taco Bell at Sixth Avenue site
Summary
Takala LLC asked the Decatur City Planning Board to grant a variance reducing required parking from 38 to 25 spaces for a new Taco Bell at 2142 Sixth Avenue SE; applicant cited lot constraints and an as-yet-unadopted zoning change. A neighborhood resident urged fewer spaces to limit loitering; the board recorded affirmative votes.
Takala LLC requested a 13-space parking variance to provide 25 parking spaces for a planned Taco Bell at 2142 Sixth Avenue Southeast, the Decatur City Planning Board heard.
The variance application seeks relief from section 25-16-2(f) of the city's zoning code. Wells Holiday, representing Takala LLC, said the proposed 2,500-square-foot restaurant would require 38 spaces under the current ordinance but that site constraints make that number infeasible.
Holiday told the board the company is proposing 25 spaces to meet operational needs and that the developer had expected a new city zoning standard of one parking space per 125 square feet (which would require eight spaces) but that the updated ordinance had not been adopted. "The lot's just not large enough for 38 parking spots," Holiday said.
The application drew public comment from a nearby resident. Denise Williams, who said she lives at 1401 Fairway Drive, told the board the restaurant's entrances and exits will be on her street and urged the board to allow fewer parking spaces to limit loitering and late-night disturbance: "People go park ... and they have a party. And it's like, no. Go away. People are trying to sleep. We have kids," Williams said.
After discussion, the board voted on the application. Tom Pope, Mark Leady, Flora Gonzales and Erica Hoover recorded affirmative votes. The board's motion to approve the variance passed (mover and seconder not specified in the transcript). The board did not record any detailed conditions in the transcript.
If approved, the variance will allow the applicant to proceed toward building permits and site work subject to any administrative requirements not shown in the hearing record.
