A small portion of Needmore Road is being considered for abandonment by the city.
Up for desertion are two sections of Needmore Road, with one in front of KFC and the second in front of Tim’s Motors. If the city walks away, the area will become private property and the two businesses can restrict access.
Officials abandoned a section of Needmore years ago.
“If you remember, the city already abandoned a portion of Needmore Road that sits directly in front of the current KFC – the area to the front that faces Smithville Highway,” said McMinnville Planning and Zoning supervisor Jason Blalock. “What this will do is abandon an additional portion of Needmore Road in the corner of the KFC property, as well as abandon the portion of the road that splits the Tim Floyd property, what is also known as Tim’s Motors. That section through the car lot is still city right of way.”
The request for the city to abandon the road came from the two businesses.
Blalock says when the city handed the first section over to KFC, owners objected to any more of the street being abandoned because then public access from that direction could potentially be obstructed. However, it now wants another section and an agreement was reached.
“KFC has agreed to not protest the city abandoning the section in front of Tim’s Motors in ex-change for this one,” Blalock said. “That’s why you are looking at them together, as a combined aban-donment. From a staff level, we don’t see any issues on this abandonment. The city will retain its utili-ty easement on this property.”
While the city would have a utility easement, access by the public could be denied as the owner of Tim’s Motors could place a barrier on the street and turn the section in front of his business into an extension of his parking lot.
Blalock made the presentation before Planning Commission members Jim Brock, Jerry William-son, David Marttala, Anthony Pelham, Amie Hodges, and city board representative Steve Harvey, on Monday.
Harvey questioned, “So, it’s going to be private property all the way from the north side of Tim’s property all the way to the south end of the KFC property?”
“Correct,” said Blalock.
Commission members unanimously agreed to recommend approval of the request to city officials.
The measure will be sent to city Street and Sanitation Committee members. On the committee are Aldermen Ryle Chastain, chairman, Jimmy Bonner, and Harvey. If approved, it will be sent to the full board for its consideration.