By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Zoning Appeals has approved a request to reduce the minimum parking requirements for the Sandusky property at 4815 Jack Huffman Blvd.
Board members took the action during a Sept. 15 hearing on a motion offered by Vice Chairman Bobbie Percer Jr. and seconded by Secretary Robbie Givhan-Spearman.
The motion was passed by four affirmative votes, with member Willie Allen absent.
The application for the zoning variance was submitted by Tom Edwards, co-owner of Flag Properties Inc. The property is zoned M-1, Light Industrial.
Jared Darby, director of the city’s Department of Planning and Economic Development, told the BZA that the applicant had proposed a reduction of the number of paved parking spaces required for industrial manufacturing use.
Because the Zoning Ordinance requires one space for each 1,000 square feet, and the Sandusky building has approximately 75,000, he said 75 parking stalls are necessary to comply with the ordinance’s Site Plan requirements.
Darby noted that the applicant requested 21 spaces for “light manufacturing and office use.”
While acknowledging that the application was complete, he said the applicant had not provided the “appropriate evidence” for the zoning variance request.
But the planning staff determined that the “submitted narrative and materials” focused on criteria that were not relevant to the request.
Darby recalled that, throughout the “land entitlement process” for the subject property, the staff had repeatedly said the parking stalls and associated “infrastructure improvements” were not in question and were required.
But he said the staff also determined that the application did not “negatively impact” the health, safety and welfare of the surrounding community and the city.
Because the staff believes the parking requirements for industrial zones are “inefficient and outdated,” Darby said it will conduct a “comprehensive update” during the next two years and prepare an ordinance that will address the “deficiencies” in the existing one.
So, he recommended a reduction of the parking stall requirement in an “amount suggested” by the BZA and applicant.
Amanda Faurbo, consultant to Flag Properties, told the board that Darby had “hit the nail on the head” regarding the irrelevance of the parking regulations to the applicant’s request.
While noting that the existing Site Plan was approved “years ago,” she said the company is “in the process” of purchasing the property, which the city currently owns.
So, she contended that having 21 parking spaces is “really above what needs to happen” in that area.
Because this is an existing structure, Faurbo called it in the “best interest” of the city for the BZA to approve the 21-space variance.
That way, she said, the company can continue to bring “this blighted property” up to Code and make it “valuable” for the community.
While acknowledging that the parking ordinance is “a little outdated,” City Attorney Gerald Lawson said it requires “a lot more spaces” than the existing facility has or will need.
So, the company was requesting a variance based on the proposed use and what is out there.
“It’s a gravel parking lot now,” he noted. “They’re putting in paved parking, so it is an improvement.”
Lawson said the city had scheduled a sale “closing” for later that week, contingent upon the BZA approving the variance request.
He recalled that, at its March 10 meeting, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to sell the property if it can be “opened and used.”
Lawson noted that the BZA’s approval of the variance request was necessary before a Site Plan can be approved and a building permit is issued.
“So, it’s a complicated process,” he said, “and there are a lot of steps to go through.”
In response to a question by Percer, Faurbo said the building will be used for “fabrication and assembly.”
She also noted that the company has an agreement with the municipal school system to provide “Vo-Tech options.”
When Percer asked where the “approximately 100” students currently enrolled in the “welding program” will park, she said a bus will transport them to and from the building.
In response to a question by BZA member Steve Beckham, Faurbo said the company expects to have 20 employees, and there will only be one shift.
When Beckham asked where the “customers” will park, Flag Properties co-owner Jeff Phelps said they will not be on-site.
“Everything is done online,” he noted. “We’re a government contractor, so we do everything through that system.”
Phelps also told Beckham that the 21 parking spaces will be “paved and striped.”
