Principle Toyota wants to move from Memphis to Collierville: Where the project stands

A local car dealership wants to relocate to a Memphis suburb.

Principle Toyota wants to move its auto dealership at 7370 Winchester Road to Collierville to better serve its customers in Germantown and Collierville, according to documents filed with Collierville. However, the project's future is still undecided due to Collierville officials' concerns.

The Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen met in a Monday afternoon work session with Principle Toyota officials. The parties agreed to defer a vote on a second reading and public hearing to rezone 17.22 acres on the Gallina Centro Planned Development from shopping center commercial to general commercial, which would allow for the dealership. The shopping center is located west of Houston Levee Road between Poplar Avenue and Winchester Road.

"Things are still up in the air until our next meeting, and we still have a ways to go," said Abigail Kampmann, founder and CEO of the San Antonio-based Principle Auto Group.

Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner said no date for the second reading and public hearing has been set.

For Principle Toyota to get the go-ahead to do the project, Collierville Town Planner Jaime Groce said the dealership must have up to seven different types of development applications approved. Those include the rezoning request, a planned development amendment, a conditional use permit, final site plan and permits for building, fencing and signage.

Why Principle Toyota wants to move from Memphis to Collierville

Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the first reading on the rezoning request during the board meeting on Feb. 26.

The proposed development site for the Principle Toyota relocation would be west of Kroger on Winchester. The auto dealership would occupy a proposed 75,000-square-foot building along with 8,600 square feet on the second floor.

Todd Lochner, general manager of Principle Toyota, said the dealership has 4,700 Toyota owners in Collierville, with 1,300 of them receiving service at the current Principle Toyota location.

"We have a lot of our customer base in our primary market area, and a majority of them are in Collierville and they're spending their money in Memphis," Lochner said during the Feb. 26 meeting. "We would love to have it here and be part of the community as well as be a part of a better neighborhood quite frankly."

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During February's meeting, Kampmann said, she has been doing business in the Memphis area for more than 40 years. The Principle Toyota location on Winchester has been at its current location for the past 20 years. Kampmann noted the dealership has spent several years looking for a new location and identified the Collierville site as the ideal site.

"We looked at a lot of sites and Toyota has only approved this site in Collierville," Kampmann said. "The reason for why we're looking to move is because our business is growing, and we want to be able to service our customers."

Lochner also noted during February's meeting the dealership's current location on Winchester has lost its appeal. "Let's be honest that area of Memphis is not the most desirable anymore, and Collierville is a wonderful area."

Concerns about Principle Toyota's move to Collierville

Memphis-based landscape architecture firm Blair Parker Design on behalf of Principle Toyota submitted a rezoning application to Collierville Town Planner Jaime Groce in November. The purpose for the rezoning request was that the existing zoning doesn’t allow for a dealership.

The Collierville Planning Commission did not recommend the rezoning request at its Feb. 1 meeting. Groce said it was a 4-4 vote by commission members, with a tie resulting in a failed vote. According to documents, some members of the planning commission expressed concern over the appropriateness of general commercial zoning and a car dealership in the area. Concerns included the property being adjoining to a residential neighborhood being developed in Germantown and a western entrance into Collierville, as well as the chance Principle Toyota would attract other car dealerships.

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Lochner said the dealership would not allow another dealership to locate beside it. Principle Toyota is willing to deed restrict the remaining property to the west to prevent any additional dealership in the Gallina Centro development.

"There is plenty of room, and I know there has been some concern from Boyle (Investment Company) about the possibilities of them putting in single-resident homes on the Germantown line," Lochner said. "There will be plenty of acreage there and we want to partner with them as well to make sure there is a larger buffer zone, so it won't be any concerns."

Lochner said if the dealership were to be sold, they would put it in the contract, that it could not be a solely used car operation.

On the property line with the Boyle project in Germantown, Principle Toyota would be willing to build a 4-acre private park with no expense to the Town of Collierville. The project would be fully gated and provide parking and benches for a dog park. Joyner said during the Feb. 26 board meeting that any planned park would have to be vetted and recommended by the town's park advisory board.

"We thought that would be a great addition for the community, and ease any concerns of Boyle and the side of anything going beside of them," Lochner said. "If Boyle does decide to go through with its single-family living homes, they would have access on both sides."

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Toyota dealership eyes move to Collierville: What's planned?