Design review board approves Ace Hardware lawn-and-garden expansion

Tim Brown of planning and development presented a minor development order from Emerald Coast Associates Engineering seeking approval to develop an 8,800-square-foot lawn and garden center on 2.15 acres with a future land use of mixed use and village mixed-use zoning in District 5. He entered the staff report into the record and invited questions from the board.

Dean Burgess of Emerald Coast Associates, representing Ace Hardware, told the board that the landscape and lighting plans were approved in phase 1 and that some foundation plantings will be installed with building construction. Burgess said civil plans control in cases where architectural and civil drawings showed differing parking-lot dimensions. He also confirmed the building sign is included in the application and that exterior building lighting will be limited to downlighting at entries and exits to meet code.

Board members asked clarifying questions about signage and landscape symbols on the plans. No members of the public spoke on the item. Unidentified Speaker 4 moved to approve the phase 2 application; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The approval covers the site and landscape plan components identified by staff; additional construction permits and building-department approvals (for occupancy, final signage and other code items) remain separate processes.