Focus is on traffic at C’ville meeting

Parking and traffic issues along Poplar Avenue were the focus for much of Tuesday night’s Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, illustrating the importance of the thoroughfare for the rapidly developing town.

“If you drive it, if you’re up and down it, it’s a mess,” Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner said afterward. He mentioned how an accident had knocked down wires and disrupted Poplar traffic in a heavily used area last week. “Traffic through that area is definitely a concern.”

The first traffic-related item Tuesday focused on an effort by coffee company Starbucks to move from the south side of Poplar Avenue to the north side. Why? It’s the “a.m. side of the road,” said Shawn Massey, a leasing agent involved in the project. In other words, morning commuters driving west toward Memphis would find it easier to turn right from Poplar to get their coffee than to turn left across traffic.

Starbucks aimed to move into a building that would be constructed on what’s now a section of shopping center parking lot at the corner of Poplar and Market Boulevard. A sales location for the Mattress Firm would occupy part of the new building.

But the board heard objections from Robyn Marino, a representative of Perkins Restaurant, which stands next door. She said the new building would threaten safety, in part because the restaurant employees would have to walk across Starbucks drive-thru traffic.

After lengthy discussion about traffic flow and parking patterns, the board voted 4-1 against the new building. Voting “no” were the mayor as well as Aldermen Tom Allen, John E. Stamps and John Worley. Voting in favor was Maureen Fraser.

Alderman Billy Patton was recused: His computer store stands a short distance from the proposed Starbucks site.

Backers of the Starbucks project declined to comment after the meeting.

The board members later discussed a proposal by national company Discount Tire to put a store at the intersection of Abbington Road on the south side of Poplar Avenue.

The board members spent a long time discussing traffic flow and the traffic impact of a nearby Walmart.

Finally, the board members voted 4-2 to approve the store if all entrances were “right in, right out” — drivers could not turn left to enter or exit the property. Voting yes were Frayser, Joyner, Stamps and Worley. Voting against were Allen and Patton.

Tuesday’s vote approved a conditional use permit — town authorities will still have to review a site plan.