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Planning Commission recommends PCD rezoning for Toyota site on Bill Smith Drive
Summary
The commission recommended rezoning about 7.5 acres on Bill Smith Drive to a Planned Commercial District (PCD) with Gateway Design Overlay 1 to allow a 7,500-square-foot accessory service building for Toyota of Murfreesboro; staff supported exceptions to façade void-space and a reduced building planting setback.
The Murfreesboro Planning Commission on Sept. 3 recommended rezoning roughly 7.46 acres along Bill Smith Drive from Commercial Highway with Gateway Design Overlay District 1 to Planned Commercial District (PCD) while retaining the Gateway Overlay. The applicant, Toyota of Murfreesboro, seeks to build a roughly 7,500‑square‑foot service/vehicle‑preparation building on an existing lot used for excess inventory storage.
Planner Aaron Barbee and Brian Grover of SCC told commissioners the building would serve as accessory service space for Toyota of Murfreesboro's main dealership; customers would continue to deliver vehicles to the main facility and staff would move vehicles to the new building. Barbee said two exceptions were added since the application's previous review: a waiver from the 35% required void space on exterior elevations and a reduction of the required planting area between drive aisles and the building from 10 feet to 5 feet (the site is in GDO1 and the larger site would otherwise require 10 feet).
Barbee and Grover said the site is consistent with the future land use designation (general commercial) and that existing vegetation and parking areas would largely remain. Grover said the proposed use is limited to motor vehicle repair and preparation as an accessory operation to the primary dealership and would not operate as a standalone customer facility. Staff recommended approval, noting the proposed use aligns with surrounding commercial development and provides separation from nearby residences.
The commission opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and then voted to approve the rezoning recommendation "subject to staff comments." Vice Chair Abel Water, Carroll, Harris, Prince, Rollins, Wright and Chair Halliburton recorded aye votes; the motion passed.
Why it matters: The rezoning clears the way for expanded, accessory service capacity for a major local dealership. The planning staff supported two exceptions intended to limit visual impact and accommodate the site's operational needs.
Provenance: Presentation and Q&A by Aaron Barbee and Brian Grover; public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; motion and roll‑call vote recorded in the meeting transcript.
