By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Shelby County Planning Commission approved an amended site plan for a proposed gas station and attached convenience store on Shelby County 41 amid residents’ concerns over a specific aspect of the commercial development plan.

The master plan for the Dunnavant Square development calls for an extension of Dublin Way, connecting it to Shelby County 41. A gas station and attached 2,400-square-foot convenience store are proposed to be built on the south side of the extended road. A 24,555-square-foot grocery store is proposed to be built on the north side, between the extension of Dublin Way and Carlow Lane.

According to Shelby County Development Services Office Principal Planner Kristine Goddard, the Aug. 3 Planning Commission decision only pertained to an amended site plan for the gas station.

The amended plan reduced the number of gas pumps from four to three and changed the orientation of the station so the pumps face Shelby County 41 rather than the residential community as originally proposed.

Several area residents attended the Aug. 3 meeting to voice concern about the extension of Dublin Way detailed in the development’s master plan.

Wicklow Lane homeowners Shane Martin and Mark Melichar both expressed concerns about the possible impact on the safety of neighborhood children, noting an extension of Dublin Way could increase traffic in their neighborhood, located directly behind the proposed gas station.

“The road will just create an open avenue for cars, especially for non-residents, to come through. Kids play all in these areas all the time,” Martin said. “We in no way want to stop the development. We just want this road not to connect (and) for children’s safety that this not occur.”

“There is a major disconnect between what (the developer) wants and what he desires and this with the residents,” Melichar said. “Thirteen peoples’ kids will be directly affected by this traffic.”

The extension of Dublin Way was approved with the original master plan for the commercial development in 2006, Goddard confirmed, although Melichar, Martin and other area residents stated they were unaware of the plan until recently.

“That has been part of the mater plan since its original approval,” Goddard said. “It’s been shown the entire time.”

The master plan, preliminary plat and site plan for the development have already been approved, Goddard said. To stop the extension of Dublin Way, the master plan for the development would need to be amended and approved.