STARKVILLE – Recent concern around the density of gas stations, car washes and other vehicle repair and maintenance businesses in the city has prompted the board of aldermen to consider temporarily pausing new builds or site redevelopments.

Mayor Lynn Spruill, who is spearheading the proposal, told the board Tuesday she is specifically concerned about the density of these businesses along Highways 12 and 182.

“I think it’s just appropriate that we take a close look at that before we get inundated, and I don’t know that we will, but I do think it’s important we take notice now,” Spruill told The Dispatch. “… I just want us to be thoughtful about what we’re doing along Highway 12 because it is a really important corridor. It’s probably our only really industrial heavy commercial type corridor, because (Highway) 182 is no longer heavy commercial.”

Starkville’s Unified Development Code defines a vehicle repair and maintenance business as, “a business that offers services to maintain, repair, clean, and provide other services to automotive vehicles.” Those can include car washes, towing services and gas stations.

There has been recent concern raised on Facebook about the number of car washes in the city, which Spruill said prompted the city to analyze the current density of these businesses.

Spruill said the car wash being built on Louisville Street is the most recent example of her concern. It will be one of at least three car washes on Highway 12 once complete. Spruill said she is also worried about other types of automotive businesses like gas stations.

During its regular meeting Tuesday at City Hall, the board voted unanimously to host a public hearing for a 180-day moratorium on new vehicle repair and maintenance sites or sites looking to be redeveloped for that purpose. The hearing will be held during the board’s Nov. 3 meeting.

If passed, the moratorium would impact business with pending zoning and use approvals, site plan and architectural review approvals, building permits and any pending applicants. If a business has already received all its approvals, it would not be impacted by the moratorium.

Spruill believes the moratorium is needed to give planning department staff the time to analyze if there is a density concern and conduct a review of the UDC. Staff would then consider making changes to the UDC which could include separating the different types of vehicle maintenance businesses if deemed necessary after the analysis, she said.

“I want them to take a look and see what is best for us because you just don’t know what’s next,” Spruill said.

Any proposed changes to the UDC that would arise from this study period would be subject to another public hearing.

In other business

In other business Tuesday, the board:

■ appointed Devin Ammons Camp to the Historic Preservation Commission for a three-year term;

■ appointed Dolton McAlpin to the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library Board of Trustees for a five-year term; and

■ replaced “light beer and wine” in the ordinance allowing alcohol to be served at 10 a.m. on Sundays with “alcoholic beverages,” as requested by state Alcohol Beverage Control.