Commission Denies Request for New Butler Hill Development

Developers wanting to add four restaurants and a car repair shop to Butler Hill Road and Interstate 55 were denied a request to change zoning last week.

Mid-America Hotels Corporation, which owns the 10.95-acre tract on the south side of Butler Hill Road, wanted to change their zoning so they won’t have to pay traffic generation assessment fees, which would cost $90,000 for one restaurant. The request would change the area from a Planned Commercial District to a Highway Service Commercial District.

. “Banks will not give them $90,000 just for traffic generation assessment fees.”

At a meeting Aug. 5, the commission voted 5-1 to deny the zoning request at the recommendation of the planning department.

Land Use Manager Gail Choate said the current zoning was the most appropriate for the location and is consistent with the rest of the area.

The planning commission also wouldn’t have control over the site plans or businesses in the area if the zoning changed to a highway service commercial district.

The developers wanted to build a Popeye’s Chicken, two sit-down restaurants, an oil and lube auto repair shop and move an existing Burger King across I-55.