Staff Recommendation

APPROVE C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning subject to limiting access to Millertown Pike (prohibiting access to Corbitt Dr.) and maintaining a continuous landscape buffer along the east and north property lines. (Deny C-3 General Commercial).

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City Council considered this request at their May 10, 2008 meeting and referred it back to MPC for consideration of C-1 zoning. MPC recommended denial of C-3 zoning and approval of O-1 zoning based on the argument that O-1 zoning would be a more appropriate transition zone between the commercial uses and zoning to the north and east and the established residential uses to the south and west. C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning allows a limited number of retail, service, and office uses. It is the City's least intense commercial zone and is recommended for properties located on the edge of neighborhoods or in transitional areas to protect the residential character.

After consideration of C-1 zoning, staff agrees that either office or neighborhood commercial uses would be compatible with the scale and intensity of surrounding uses and zoning. Both O-1 and C-1 would serve as a buffer between the commercial uses and the residential uses and would limit the types of uses that would be allowed next to the established neighborhood to the west. Both would also serve as extensions of the C-1 zoning to the northeast and O-1 zoning across Millertown Pike.

The property currently has access to Millertown Pike and Corbitt Dr. Staff is recommending a condition that access be limited to Millertown Pike. Since Corbitt Dr. is a residential street, prohibiting access to it will lessen the potential traffic impact on surrounding residential properties. In addition to this condition, staff is recommending that the developer of the property maintain a continuous Type A landscaped buffer along the east and north property lines. This buffer will help to protect the neighboring residential property owners from future uses.

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Disposition Summary

C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial), subject to limiting access to Millertown Pike (prohibiting access to Corbitt Dr.) and maintaining a continuous landscape buffer along the east and north property lines,