Deacon's Chrysler Jeep Rezoning Plan Ready for Council Vote

Only one resident spoke at a Council public hearing on proposed legislation that would rezone land for an expansion at on SOM Center Road. And his only concern was a fence.

"I'd like to see a wooden fence that looks like what was done on the Seneca (Road) side," said Larry Pollack, who lives on Wilson Mills Road near the auto dealership. "It's just a reinforcement of the green space."

He added that dirt being removed for a detention basin could be used to build a mound and raise landscaping being done on the Wilson Mills Road side of the lot.

Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed rezoning legislation on Aug. 15. If it passes, it would then go on the Nov. 8 ballot for voter approval. As part of a $2.5 million project, Deacon's wants to rezone two residential properties that would be used to store cars.

Architect Randy Smith explained at the public hearing that there will be a 40-foot buffer between the back of the car lot and the closest residential property.

"We're giving up 40 percent of that additional property for green space," he said.

James W. Deacon, company president, said the dealership's business plan doesn't work without the extra space the rezoning would provide. He said the expansion is needed to preserve the viability of the dealership and was discussed with Chrysler, which wants its dealers to carry the full product line – including Dodge and Ram.

Jack Gannon, Chrysler dealer network development manager, said that goal is part of Chrysler's Project Genesis and 94 percent of dealers now carry Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge all under one roof.

Gannon also said that in June 2009, when Chrysler pared down the number of dealerships in this market from 13 to seven, Deacon's was chosen because of its excellent reputation.

In picking up the Dodge line, Deacon's has to add space to meet Chrysler square footage requirements, Gannon added.

"That's part of the reasons the Deacons are making this proposal," he said.