Hardee’s hit a concrete wall in its effort to rezone its back parking lot Tuesday night, ending its plans to demolish the existing building and replace it with one that’s better configured to address traffic and noise concerns.McMinnville officials voted unanimously to deny Hardee’s request to rezone its back parking lot from Residential 1 to Commercial 1.Voting against rezoning were Mayor Jimmy Haley, Vice Mayor Ben Newman and Aldermen Everett Brock, Mike Neal, Steve Harvey, Ryle Chastain and Jimmy Bonner.Standing in between Hardee’s and its plan is the city’s desire for a concrete wall to be constructed between the business and its residential neighbors. A concrete wall is not required by current city code.Prior to the vote, city Planning and Zoning director Nolan Ming recommended approval for rezoning. He cited several reasons, including that new construction would alleviate the current traffic and safety issues on West Main Street and alleviate the noise nuisance by relocating the drive-thru order boards from the side facing residential property to the side facing commercial property.Alderman Brock asked, “Are we requiring Hardee’s to present in its plans that we would get what most of the property owners want which is a fence, something other than wood quality, like concrete, block, or whatever?
City rejects Hardee's rezoning