Highland, who is currently in the process of developing a Starbucks in Algood, recently made requests to the BZA
Recently, the UCBJ reported Racetrac Inc. purchased 10.5 acres on South Willow in Cookeville for $4 million.
“Currently, it’s still too early to share any details about the project,” according to the RaceTrac officials.
The plan is to establish the parcels of land, which once held a gas station (since torn down) adjacent to the Star Motor Inn, as a convenience center to take advantage of the Target and Home Depot planned for the area. RaceTrac may have some company. According to sources, Starbucks is eyeing the current Recreational Concepts location at 1151 S. Willow Avenue.
The location is just south of I-40 near the discussed RaceTrac Travel Center. Walter Boyd, on behalf of Highland Venture Services, LTD, who is currently in the process of developing a Starbucks in Algood, recently made requests to the board of zoning appeals (BZA) requiring a bypass lane with a minimum width of 12 feet for a “restaurant drive-thru at 1151 S. Willow Avenue.”
Both the “drive-thru coffee business” and the possible Racetrack travel center would have access to the new Green Gate Lane traffic signal.
The BZA has postponed action on the request while board members iron out specifics on lane sizes, turning lanes and traffic congestion
The plan depicts a drive-thru lane along the west and south of the existing building, according to officials. A portion of the adjacent property to the south will look to be combined “to the existing subject property.”
So, the obvious question is, how many Starbucks is too many? There are currently four Starbucks locations in Cookeville:
- Interstate Drive Starbucks: Located at 1105 Interstate Dr.
- South Willow Avenue Starbucks: Located on South Willow Avenue.
- Tennessee Tech Starbucks: Located in the Roaden University Center (RUC) on the Tennessee Tech campus.
- Food City Starbucks: Located inside the Food City at 10th Street.
The answer, of course, is what the market will allow, and as long as the chain is serving loyalist and profiting, it will keep building. Target and Starbucks is a match made in heaven, but traffic on the Willow exit may be far from heavenly very soon.
The next scheduled BZA meeting is at 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 11.
Meetings take place in the council chambers at Cookeville City Hall at 45 E. Broad Street.
UCBJ photo.
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