Site plans for Whataburger in Spring Hill to go before vote in August
Site plans for the first Whataburger in Spring Hill will go before a vote next month by the city's Municipal Planning Commission.
If approved, the proposed burger chain will be located at the former Burger King at 4933 Main St. near Publix and the Suntrust bank.
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Whataburger was founded in 1950 and has approximately 880 locations throughout the U.S., primarily in the southeast and southwest. The company is now looking to open nine locations in the Middle Tennessee area.
Planners discussed the site plans Monday during the commission's work session. The discussion primarily focused on topics such as building elevations and access to the site via U.S. Highway 31, as well as if the building would affect the Tennessee Department of Transportation's (TDOT) future plans to widen the road.
According to the Spring Hill planning staff report, the plans will include demolishing the existing structure and making changes to the overall layout of the site, including relocating the building, drive aisles and parking spaces.
A recent traffic impact study (TIS) indicated that a right-turn lane would need to be provided off Main Street to allow better traffic flow onto the site. The traffic signal at the intersection of Main Street and Campbell Station Parkway would also likely require a minor timing adjustment.
The study also suggests certain measures should be taken during peak hours.
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"During extreme peak times, such as the opening weeks, it is recommended that staff be able to barricade the south access drive and redirect traffic to prevent vehicles from backing up into the access drive to the south and onto Main Street (Columbia Pike)," the staff report states. "Staff would require a Traffic Operation and Management Plan, not only for opening weeks, but also long term in order to mitigate such risk."
Planners also requested a proper 3D rendering of the building, with elevation levels, coloring and the most up-to-date design be made available prior to the planning commission's Aug. 11 voting meeting.
"I want to be real clear about what we are being asked to approve," Chairman Jonathan Duda said.
"We all want to make sure we are looking at the same material, or the most up-to-date material ... You can incorporate architectural details, like shutters, relief on masonry for faux window treatments, others might include awnings and three-dimensional details to the building to provide architectural interest."
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Site plans for Whataburger in Spring Hill to go before vote in August
