By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham Planning Commission failed to approve a plat for a new Burger King restaurant on Highway 31 during a July 10 meeting, voting to continue the decision until their next regularly scheduled meeting.

According to the plat presented to the Planning Commission, the Burger King would be built on a subdivision of land owned by Locke Pelham LLC, in front of the Mi-Pueblo supermarket and shopping center currently occupying that location.

Jowers noted the absence of key information, namely construction plans for utilities and parking as required by subdivision regulations, and added the city had not been able to reach Locke Pelham LLC.

“Basically, the paper copy we have here is all we’ve received,” Jowers said of the one submitted building plan, adding there were “no notaries, no signatures.”

Attorney Robert Sprain, representing owner of an adjoining lot Pelham Retail Group LLC, raised legal concerns about the proposed construction with regard to an agreement with Pelham Retail Group LLC when the land was subdivided in 2007.

“There’s too much that needs to be done,” Councilwoman Karyl Rice said in support of a motion to continue the Planning Commission decision. “I don’t think very much due diligence has been done (on the part of Burger King).”

Waters supported the Planning Commission’s move to continue the decision, noting it is indicative of their thorough “vetting process” of each item that comes before them.

“I don’t like the idea of it being hurried up and us not being sure all the t’s have been crossed and i’s have been dotted,” Rice said.

The Planning Commission will revisit the proposed Burger King construction plans during their August 15 regularly scheduled meeting.