A drive-in theater is coming to Harpersville.

Despite concerns about traffic on U.S. Highway 280, the Town Council approved construction of a drive-in theater on Monday night.

Brian Skinner of Argo, who proposed the theater, said excavation should begin next week.

He said engineers and architects have already completed their work.

With all councilmembers present and Mayor Theoangelo Perkins not voting, the council approved the drive-in on a 4-0-1 vote. Councilmember William Rayfield abstained.

When asked about traffic concerns, Skinner said the drive-in will pull customers off U.S. 280 within 125 feet and he felt impact on traffic would be minimal.

&8220;I&8217;m extremely pleased and I think (the town council) they did a super thorough job just like the planning and zoning board.&8221;

Previously, the Council tabled action on the proposal.

Skinner proposed to open the theater in the area of the old Evans Flea Market on U.S. Highway 280.

He already owns a drive-in theater in Argo.

Skinner said the theater would show mostly PG and PG-13 movies and the occasional horror show or war movie.

He also said unlike in the past, customers will not place a speaker inside their cars but tune their radio dials to receive the movie sound.

Skinner said the Argo drive-in opened in 1998 with &8220;Titanic.&8221; He said he felt that Harpersville has the same demographics as Argo and the drive-in would draw customers from Childersburg, Sylacauga, Pell City, Clanton and Birmingham.

He also felt the theater would do 30 to 40 percent better than Argo and would cost about $400,000 including the land purchase