Commission approves materials deviation for city fleet building despite one commissioner’s objection

The Planning Commission approved site plan STP 19-16-2025 — which covers the city fleet building and associated pole barns — including requested deviations from the Unified Development Code (UDC) on materials and sidewalk locations.

Planning staff told the commission the fleet building and pole barns would not be visible from the street and argued the eastern access is constrained, and staff supported the requested deviations with conditions (including a sidewalk along Beechcroft Road to be addressed with TDOT approval at a subsequent phase and a sidewalk along the main access to the administration building). Tyler Scroggins, the city’s public works director, and Michael Black of Lowe’s Design participated in the discussion.

One commissioner objected, saying, “I don't feel that we need to be making concessions or deviations from our building codes for our own buildings when we're gonna enforce them on businesses that come in here,” and said they would vote against approval. Mayor Pitter noted a recent similar deviation approved for private development along Beechcroft Road and moved to approve STP 19-16-2025 with staff conditions; the motion was seconded and the item was approved.

The transcript records the exchange of concerns about consistency in enforcement and the staff justification that the building’s visibility and constrained access warranted the departures. Final conditions and the staff report detail the required sidewalk approvals and other site-specific conditions.