The property is located at 707 N. McDonald St. at the northwest corner of McDonald Street and Christian Street. The project includes a roughly 15,000-square-foot building on a 0.36-acre property with the entrance to the building facing south, according to city documents. The specific business that will occupy the building has not been announced.
The project came before the commission to request a landscape variance to allow for a 10-foot landscape buffer along both McDonald and Christian streets instead of the required 20-foot buffer.
Dwayne Zinn, a representative of the engineer for the project, spoke to the commission about the project at the meeting. Zinn noted the small size of the property constricted any potential development.
City staff recommended the variance for approval, but some commission members did not agree with the request.
“My concern for [Hwy.] 5 is we’ve got eight, nine, 10 car lots in about a mile-and-a-half stretch right there. Now it looks like we’re going to have four convenience stores in that same stretch, and I’m not going to vote for it,” commission member Charles Wattley said.
Other members of the commission identified the project as a potential improvement for the area. Commission member Bry Taylor spoke in support of the request, noting the need for development in the area.
“This stretch of McDonald needs all the help it can get, and this is an improvement. I wouldn’t vote against it because of 10 feet,” Taylor said.
The variance request was approved 4-3, with commission members Wattley, Brian Mantzey and Steve Lebo voting against.
