The Minden Planning Commission unanimously approved a preliminary lot split Thursday that could pave the way for a new bookstore and coffee shop in downtown Minden. All members were present.
Matt Wimberly, co-founder of Sage Community Fitness and owner of the property through Maximar Properties LLC, requested approval to divide the property at 700 Main Street. The large building extends from Main Street to Broadway along East Union Street and is zoned B-3, Central Business District.
Wimberly told the commission he plans to sell approximately half of the building, including the 700 Main Street portion, to a buyer who intends to develop a bookstore with a coffee shop.
The request initially came before the commission with plans to subdivide the property for multifamily development. However, Wimberly said Thursday that he does not intend to pursue the residential portion of the project at this time.
Instead, the immediate focus will be on establishing businesses in the building. Wimberly said the possibility of developing apartments above the retail spaces could be revisited at a later date.
Because the property is already zoned B-3, no zoning change is required for the planned commercial use.
The commission unanimously granted preliminary approval for the lot split. The request will next go before the Minden City Council for final approval, potentially during its September 8 meeting.
A separate proposal that could eventually bring a food truck park to Sibley Road was also scheduled for consideration Thursday but was removed from the agenda pending additional information about zoning requirements.
Wilson Family Developers LLC, listed as the option holder for property owned by Terry and Jeanine Love at 1312 Sibley Road, had requested a zoning variance for the property, which is currently zoned B-4, Highway Commercial.
According to the agenda, the proposed development would use the property as a food truck park and allow mobile food vendors to connect to city utilities.
Planning Commission Chairman Morris Busby said additional questions must be addressed before the proposal moves forward, including what zoning would be appropriate and how existing city ordinances would apply to the development.
“They’re looking at the possibility of being able to develop that into a food court with food truck parking and things of that nature, along with a pavilion and entertainment and stuff. There’s a lot of questions about that as far as the logistics of noise ordinances and things of that nature,” Busby said.
Busby also said the city needs to examine its ordinances as it considers how such a development would be regulated.
The food truck park request could return to the Planning Commission once the zoning and ordinance questions are resolved.
