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Council committee backs MLGW street closures to enable North Service Center expansion
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Committee recommended approval to close streets and alleys within the MLGW North Service Center fence line so the utility can build two new service buildings and a laydown yard to relocate heavy maintenance and a transformer shop.
The Planning and Zoning Committee voted May 20 to forward a request by Memphis Light, Gas & Water to close portions of Shasta Avenue, Tupelo Street and North Bingham Street to accommodate expansion of MLGW’s North Service Center.
Nicholas Wardrop of Planning and Development and MLGW President Doug McGowan explained the closures are entirely within MLGW-owned property and the utility’s existing fence line, and will allow construction of two new warehouse buildings and an outdoor laydown yard for transformers and heavy equipment. McGowan said the expansion is planned to move heavy equipment maintenance and a transformer shop out of a 126‑year-old facility near Beale Street to the North Service Center and that the new configuration improves operational safety and modernizes maintenance functions.
McGowan showed site plans indicating the new buildings overlap portions of the local rights-of-way that are currently inside MLGW’s operational boundary; staff said closing those short stretches of public right-of-way will not affect neighborhood travel because the streets are already enclosed within the utility’s campus. Planning staff and the Land Use Control Board recommended approval. The committee voted to send the closure requests to the council with a positive recommendation.
