The Cookeville Board of Zoning Appeals approved a request Thursday allowing a company to utilize outdoor storage for building materials at a West Jackson Street facility.
Cookeville Planning Commission Planner Christopher Phillips presented the request for the property located at West Jackson Street, noting the site is currently zoned for light manufacturing. The petitioner submitted a site plan outlining how the company intends to secure the inventory while adhering to city screening regulations.
“SRS Distribution is a subsidiary of Home Depot that primarily sells, distributes wholesale building products to local contractors and businesses,” Phillips said. “Products are typically delivered but can be picked up on-site by a purchaser.”
The approved plan includes an eight-foot-high chain link fence equipped with slats to provide visual screening of the stored items. Phillips said the outdoor storage areas will be located to the east and west of the principal structure.
“The submitted plan notes the proposed outdoor storage would consist of new roofing materials, shingles, and siding that cannot be practically stored inside,” Phillips said. “The proposed storage area is approximately 240 feet north of West Jackson Street and a structure located on adjacent property blocks visibility from CC Camp Road to the west.”
During the public hearing portion of the meeting, a resident questioned the board regarding the potential for refuse accumulation at the site.
“They can’t put garbage in there, correct?” Tyler Brown said.
Board Chairman James Dial said that the special exception applies strictly to goods and materials intended for sale, such as roofing and siding, rather than recycling or waste. Officials said the zoning code does not permit garbage storage under this approval.
“And our recommendation is approval of the special exception to allow outdoor storage of goods and materials within the LM zoning district subject to meeting the requirements of Section 228.3 of the zoning code,” Phillips said.
The board voted unanimously to approve the motion based on the established criteria.