By John Howell

A zoning change for property owned by Danny R. Holland and Company on Highway 6 West at its intersection with Highway 35 could lead to an dealership specializing in sales of vintage autos.

Holland met with members of the Batesville Planning Commission Monday night seeking a zoning change from I-2 (industrial) to C-2 (commercial) for old Compress properties. ”We want to make it a ‘50s-’60s-type atmosphere in the building; we want to make it like an old car dealership,” Holland said.

“I think there is a public need,” Holland continued. “I have a good many people here in the community rebuilding cars for me already.”

Holland was of nine people who sought changes or variances during the planning commission’s monthly meeting.

Ray Slaughter also plans an auto-related venture at 882 Highway 6 West, said Michael Purdy who is associated with Slaughter in the venture. The men are remodeling a site on the south side of the highway where a burned-out auto shop once stood. Slaughter spoke to commissioners seeking approval for colors and a sign at the location.

“I’m steady working on it; I don’t know whether y’all (saw) it before I started, but I’ve (gone) a long ways,” Slaughter told the commissioners.

Commissioners Kim LaVergne and Judy Savage discussed several landscaping improvements with the property owner.

“Do you want to make approval of this (Slaughter’s request) contingent on planting?” Commission chairman Richard Corson asked Savage.

“I’m not saying he can’t put his business there if he doesn’t put something there, but I think he should if at all possible,” Savage replied.

Billie and Kyzee Shepard presented colors and a sign plan for Off Square Promenade that they plan to develop from the narrow building at 101-105 Panola Avenue.

“I think the old building has a lot of potential if it’s done right,” Billie Shepard said.  The building recently housed Jarva’s and a snack bar and historically was the site of Lowe’s Dairy Freeze and Nail’s TV and Radio Service.

In other planning commission business:
• Love’s Travel Stop requested approval for a proposed 24 by 70 foot storage building to be constructed at its facility at Highway 35 and I-55;
• Mike Fudge requested approval for roof improvements to Skyline Motel, 200 Highway 51 South;
• Kirk Rowsey requested approval for new dealership signage at the Big Delta Power Sports facility on Cracker Barrel Drive;
All requests were approved by the unanimous vote of commissioners Terry Townsend, Willie King, David Billingsley, Billy Downs, LaVergne and Savage, who attended Monday’s meeting. The requests will be forwarded with the planning commission recommendations for final approval by Batesville’s mayor and aldermen.
The commissioners also approved site and building design standards for improvements by Boyce Crowell at 121 Public Square. Batesville Main Street Manager Colleen Clark appeared at the commission meeting for the property owner.
“The work he is doing — he worked with the Main Street program, and we have a designer that helps us … he is following the recommendations that the Main Street design committee  set forth for him,” Clark told the commission. “He has started work; it’s pretty evident, but we were pleased with he was willing to work with us and follow the recommendations we gave him,” she said.

Clark said that Crowell is also considering the addition of a mural to the wall of the two-story brick building that houses Dale Copeland, Jeweler, on its first floor.
Commissioners approved the colors and plans by unanimous vote, but the action triggered additional discussion later in the meeting about the roles of the planning commission and Main Street program

Other business included approval of revision in the planned location of a sign at the Raceway Convenience Store location east of I-55 at Covenant Crossing and a change in the landscaping requested for Okuns in the construction of its new store near Walmart.