The city-parish Planning Commission on Monday approved a request to rezone the former home of McAlister’s Deli at 7242 Perkins Road and OK’d updates to developer Richard Carmouche’s concept plan for the Settlement at Willow Grove.
There was no opposition for the requested rezoning of the McAlister’s building. The sandwich shop closed in December due to an expired lease.
Investors Donnie Jarreau, Hank Saurage IV and Edward Rotenberg purchased the building for $1.4 million last month as a “speculative” buy. They plan to use the space for a restaurant with alcohol service.
Jarreau says the request still has to go before the Metro Council, but he doesn’t foresee issues arising. Meanwhile, he and his partners are in discussion with four or five prospects to fill the space, but nothing is final, he adds.
The Planning Commission also approved setting the square footage of the Settlement at Willow Grove’s nonresidential space at 39,173 square feet; OK’d the development’s concept plan for property on the north side of Perkins Road, between Wimbledon Avenue and Oakdale Drive; and reapproved the development plan for property located on the north side of Perkins Road between Lanes End and Settlers Circle.
The item had been deferred from a prior Planning Commission meeting after a resident complained that the subdivision’s lights illuminated his property and could be seen from inside of his home.
Carmouche and the resident were given time to resolve the issue, but the developer told the Planning Commission they were unable to come to a solution. The lights, Carmouche says, are in compliance.
“We’re outside of the consolidated lighting district. If you don’t light up the front of the subdivision there’s no way to know where you’re supposed to turn in. It’s dangerous,” says Carmouche, adding that he leases the lights from Entergy.
—Alexandria Burris
