Planning commission backed converting industrial lot on West Dunbar Cave Road to C-5 despite staff opposition

A request to rezone roughly 2.09 acres in the light industrial park off West Dunbar Cave Road from M‑1 Light Industrial to C‑5 Highway and Arterial Commercial was presented to the City Council on May 29; planning staff recommended disapproval but the Regional Planning Commission recommended approval.

Staff said the parcel is accessed from Industrial Drive and does not have frontage on an arterial highway (the nearest arterial, Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, is about a quarter‑mile away). Staff argued C‑5 could permit uses that are not complementary to an established light industrial park and noted the M‑1 district is under review in an ongoing zoning rewrite that may expand allowable M‑1 uses. Planning commission members and several council members said the surrounding pattern already contains C‑5 and other commercial uses and that an expanded use list makes sense for the area.

Councilman Streitman, who served on the planning commission, said most commissioners voted to approve and the agent described potential tenants, including a gym. Councilman Chandler said he supported approval because there are no houses or schools immediately affected and because the area already contains commercial activity. Councilman Lovato expressed concerns about narrow local streets and said she would vote no.

The staff packet noted no adverse environmental issues; staff recommended disapproval while the planning commission recommended approval. No council vote is recorded in the transcript; the item remains on the council's agenda for consideration.