Residents and council members press appeal over South Third Street lot split that could affect Save A Lot

The Memphis City Council on July 8 heard an appeal from Dr. Lynette P. Williams asking the council to overturn a Land Use Control Board approval to resubdivide a portion of the Save A Lot site at 4696 South Third Street into a separate 0.82-acre parcel (Lot 3). The Division of Planning and Development recommended the council reject the appeal and allow the resubdivision to stand; no final council vote on the appeal is recorded in the meeting transcript.

DPD planner Trevian Smith told the council the resubdivision request (case S25-10) would create a separate 0.82-acre lot on the north end of the existing property and that the proposed lots meet the standards of the Commercial Mixed Use-3 (CMU-3) zoning district. "The proposed preliminary plan a lot was subdivided... Lot 3 will create it on that north side," Smith said in his presentation. He noted DPD and the Land Use Control Board approved the preliminary plan with conditions.

Brett Ragdale of DPD clarified the narrow legal effect of a subdivision. "The uses that are allowed or any other requirements of the UDC do not change with a subdivision," Ragdale said. He explained a subdivision creates separate parcels but does not itself authorize a new use; any use allowed under CMU-3 could already be located on the property prior to subdivision.

The appeal—s lead speaker, Dr. Lynette P. Williams, executive director of Aquelina Lakeview Gardens CDC Inc., said neighbors fear the split could allow a use that would threaten the Save A Lot grocery and the surrounding community. "We are located in a food desert. And we don't want anything to threaten that, ability for us to at least access food," Williams said, adding her organization gathered roughly 300 signatures within 750 feet of the site in opposition.

Neighborhood speakers raised environmental and safety concerns, saying the parcel lies in or near a well-protection zone and that the applicant initially listed an oil-change facility among conceptual uses. Williams said the community prefers options that would reinforce the grocery, such as an expanded retail footprint or services that would draw customers into Save A Lot rather than compete with it.

Wesley Woodridge, representing the property owner and Renaissance Group, said the owner has no finalized tenant and that the purpose of the subdivision is to create a parcel that can be marketed. "Currently, we're just creating a new lot. There's no use for it yet," Woodridge said. He said the owner intends the lot sale to help make the Save A Lot—s operations financially viable by reducing the grocery's property tax burden.

Speakers noted conditions attached to approval by DPD and LUCB, including that no curb cut be allowed on Shelby Drive and that any deviations be determined by the zoning administrator. Planners told the council that, if approved, the subdivision would yield a Lot 3 of about 35,885 square feet (approximately 0.82 acres).

Council members expressed concern on both sides. Councilman Cooper Sutton said the neighborhood already has automotive and service uses nearby and voiced support for residents who opposed the subdivision, while Councilman Ford asked clarifying questions about what a subdivision legally permits and what would remain if the council rejected the appeal.

The transcript does not record a final council vote on the appeal during the portion provided. DPD and LUCB had approved the resubdivision with conditions; the appeal hearing allowed council members and community members to register opposition and probe the possible implications of creating a new lot that could later be sold to a third party.

If the council or staff takes further action, future council records or minutes will reflect any final vote or follow-up conditions.