The Sparks Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward a recommendation that the City Council amend the Sparks Crossing Final Development Standards Handbook to expand permitted colors and materials for two pad sites in the Sparks Crossing commercial center.

Senior planner Danny Ray told the commission the Sparks Crossing plan development covers about 39 acres east of Pyramid Way and north of Shoppers Way. Staff said the proposed change would apply only to Pads A and B and would add a palette allowing primary colors (whites, beiges, tans, grays, browns, reds, oranges, blacks, blues and teal) to cover at least 75% of a building’s exterior, with accent colors limited to 25%, and would add exterior materials such as brick and tile resembling stone, ceramic, and manufactured metal or wood.

Ray said staff believes the amendment would help attract tenants and support redevelopment of the last undeveloped pad. He noted the master developer has provided a letter of consent and that staff mailed 234 notices to nearby owners and received no public comment on the item.

Applicant Mark Platt, who identified himself as the owner/operator and said he and his wife have invested "2 and a half $1,000,000 into this location," described plans to open a higher-end restaurant in the existing Pad B building and asked for the greater design flexibility to signal a new concept to customers. Platt said, if approvals proceed, the business hopes to open in March and has already received hundreds of job applicants.

After discussion the commission moved to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council (motion moved by Commissioner Kramer and seconded by Commissioner Nieberline); the motion passed unanimously.