The Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposal by Graff Plumbing to have a business site at 125 Tolbert St. on Monday.
Commissioner Andy Graham said the plan to improve the site is a "good repurposing of a vacant eyesore."
The commission set a number of requirements for the approval. Fencing will be required along the east property line where vehicles will be stored. Originally more fencing was proposed but that requirement was dropped by the commission.
Another requirement is that the parking lot is to be graveled. Originally, the proposal was for the parking lot to be hard-surfaced but that requirement was also dropped.
Other requirements are that the storage of material and inventory on the outside of the building is prohibited and the number of commercial vehicles stored on the site is limited to four.
Planning Director Jeff Kaiser raised the possibility that the Environmental Protection Agency may become involved to test for contaminants because the building had been used as a dry cleaning operation.
The commission set a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 on a proposal by Kendall House to rezone less than one acre of land fronting West Street directly west of the Sunoco station from residential to highway interchange commercial. That land, if rezoned, is expected to be added to other commercial land in the area as a site for a restaurant with a drive-thru.
After the public hearing, the commission is expected to make a recommendation to City Council concerning the rezoning request. Council will then take up the issue, hold a public hearing and make a final decision on the commission's recommendation.
The regularly scheduled meeting of the commission for Dec. 24 has been cancelled.
