By Karen Middleton
The proposed Habitat for Humanity “Restore” won its request for conditional use approval from the Athens Planning Commission by a 4-to-2 vote.
Habitat had requested the permit to operate the store in the old Clem Tire Store on West Washington Street, which is now owned by First Presbyterian Church.
“The next step now is for the church to get approval from its conference to be able to use the building for that,” said Planning Commission Chairman Rod Huffman. “The local church people are in favor of it.”
The Restore would not be a thrift store, but would sell used appliances, discontinued and donated building materials as well as other household items.
Other business
In other business, Huffman said the commission turned down by a 4-to-2 vote a request by the Days Inn to locate a fuel station on its U.S. 72 East property. Huffman said having the fuel station on the grounds of the motel would violate a city ordinance, which specifies the property has been approved for a hotel/motel, but not a gasoline station.
“They can have an accessory building, but this is an entirely different line of business,” said Huffman. “Also there was the traffic issue — fuel trucks going in and out, backing up and negotiating the property. They would have to go all around the property to get back out.
“The traffic study showed no problem with U.S. 72, but the analysis didn’t cover on-site.”
Approvals
The commission approved:
• A minor three-lot addition for Deer Trail Subdivision, at Market Street and Antler Pass at the request of Lynn Persell Builders;
• A three-unit town home for Lynn Persell at Market Street and Antler Pass;
• A two-lot re-subdivision of Lot 3 of Trigreen Equipment Subdivision at the request of Tennessee Valley Investments;
• A two-lot minor Elmore-Hine Subdivision, on the west side of Hine Street, south of Sanderfer Road at the request of Troy Elmore.
