Commissioners at the Jan. 8 Planning Commission meeting pressed the applicant for a 10,000‑square‑foot Kroger Shops outbuilding to clarify the use of a cast‑brick or limestone veneer and to move handicapped parking and dumpster locations for safety and accessibility.

Staff summary: Planning staff (Speaker 6) outlined three remaining comments: (1) clarify whether the limestone/cast‑brick veneer should count as primary material for design review, (2) relocate handicapped parking closer to the middle building if feasible, and (3) relocate dumpster enclosures to the same side of the drive aisle as the building for employee safety.

Debate over materials: Commissioners examined whether the proposed veneer qualifies as a primary, durable material under the town’s design‑review rules. Staff described the product as a veneer that "gives the finished appearance" but is not the same as traditional stone or brick and raised concerns about long‑term durability and maintenance if the veneer were to fail. "If you remove it, as a primary material, only the rear would meet design review at that time," staff said, noting the potential for the building to fall below the 75% primary‑material requirement.

Outcome and next steps: The commission approved the staff comments and required that the building meet the town’s current design‑review materials (brick and stone) unless the applicant submits an acceptable, durable alternative and the commission or council approves an amendment. The approval included direction that handicap stalls and dumpster placement should be revisited in permit drawings to improve accessibility and employee safety.

Context: The exchange highlighted the commission’s emphasis on material durability and consistency across projects, and it created a path for applicants to present new products for formal consideration if a developer wants the commission to accept a nontraditional material in future cases.