Preliminary site plans for three new retail buildings just outside the north gate of Aberdeen Proving Ground were approved by the Aberdeen Planning Commission.
At Wednesday night's planning meeting, Project Manager Lou Schaffer, of Frederick Ward and Associates, presented commissioners with the site plan proposed for Lot B of North Gate Business Park. He was assisted by Paul Thompson, of ADW Architects.
The buildings will mirror surrounding ones in the business park, Thompson added, with similar materials and design features.
They plan on building three retail buildings on a 3.2-acre lot, Schaffer said, but do not have any tenants in mind yet. They will also have a stormwater management system as a backup to the recharge areas planned with sand filtration.
The area will also have 95 parking spaces, Schaffer said, more than the required 75 spaces. Six of those spaces will be handicap only and there are plans to make spots specifically for energy efficient vehicles.
"We have not designated any spaces for energy savers at this point in time but as we go through the development process we will," Schaffer said in response to question from Planning and Community Development Director Phyllis Grover.
Other business
A review of draft amendments to Chapter 235 in the Code of the City of Aberdeen was originally planned for Wednesday's meeting, but Chairman Joe Swisher announced it had been removed.
Instead, members briefly discussed Chapter 470 of the same code, on streets and sidewalks. Swisher initiated the discussion, pointing out the 17 different definitions of streets in the opening of the chapter and suggesting a change.
Another member, Nancy Kosko, mentioned that the chapter could use some improvements but acknowledged Grover's statement that many of the sections in that part of the code were about state highways and could not be changed.
Regardless, Grover and Public Works Director Matt Lapinsky agreed that section of the code should be examined further.
Upcoming meetings
The next Aberdeen City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in city hall at 60 N. Parke St.
The next planning commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., also in city hall.