Farmington Approves Dairy Queen Plan

FARMINGTON — The Planning Commission approved two new projects for the city Monday night: a new Dairy Queen Grill & Chill and a wood pavilion to provide outside dining for Damon’s BBQ.

Commissioners approved a large scale development plan for Dairy Queen, which will be owned by G.T. Management and located at 310 W. Main St., the corner of Main and Double Springs Road.

After approving the plan, Commissioner Bobby Wilson joked that the most important question of the night was when would he be able to order a cheeseburger and DQ Blizzard.

Cheryl Zotti with G.T. Management replied the restaurant should be open in the middle of July. Construction will start as soon as the city issues a building permit to the firm, she said. The new Dairy Queen will have 2,612 square feet and seat 70 people.

The approval of the large scale development plan was contingent on several comments made by city engineer Chris Brackett of McGoodwin Williams & Yates of Fayetteville. For instance, a final drainage report is required and a drainage structure will be required to prevent runoff from flowing over the sidewalk.

The landscape plan on the proposal does not meet the city’s landscape ordinance but the Commission indicated it would be open to approving a variance for the project.

The Planning Commission is revising the ordinance to make it less intensive and members said Dairy Queen could use the revised ordinance in its landscaping.

Jorge Du Quesne with Blew & Associates Engineering and Surveying said the parking lot for the restaurant is next to the street right of way and does not leave room to plant trees along Double Springs Road and Main Street. He said the owner would be open to

planting trees that are meant to go along the street frontage in other areas on the property.

Wilson recommended against planting any trees along Double Springs Road. He pointed out school kids dart across that road and as the trees get bigger, it could be a safety hazard.

“Someone will be hit because they will not be seen because of the trees,” Wilson said.

Commission member Jay Moore said he agreed with Wilson’s suggestion but also asked Quesne to find a “happy medium.”

Moore added, “When you are planning for landscaping, do as much as you can to keep trees and shrubs on the property. When something new comes in, we’re trying to step up.”

After the meeting, Zotti said Dairy Queen will employ 80- 85 people and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is G.T. Management’s first DQ but she said the firm may open other DQs in the future.

In other action, Larry Bowden with Damon’s BBQ & Grill asked the Commission to waive the requirements of a large scale development plan for his new pavilion. The structure will be located on the property at 60 E. Main, between Briar Rose Bakery and Dollar General Store.

The Commission voted to waive some of the requirements. As part of the vote, Bowden agreed to pave the parking lot at the front of the property, submit a drainage plan and a landscape plan. If he decides to build a new restaurant on the land in the future, then Bowden will have to comply with all requirements for a large scale development plan.

Bowden said he plans to keep most of the large trees on the property and Commission member Judy Horne thanked him for doing that.

“Thank you for trying to save those beautiful, big trees,” Horne told him.

Bowden said he does not plan to plant as many trees along the perimeter of the property but will have landscaping around the pavilion.

“I want it to be a parklike setting,” Bowden told commissioners.

The approval of Bowden’s proposal was contingent on comments made by Brackett about the plan.

The commission also set April 25 as the date for a public hearing on the revised landscape plan.