Plan Commission approves Carrie's Crispies relocation to 8801 W. National Ave.; requires detailed landscaping and signage review

The Plan Commission voted to approve Carrie's Crispies' request to relocate production and limited retail to 8801 West National Avenue, subject to several conditions aimed at buffering neighbors and meeting zoning requirements.

Emily, planning staff, summarized the proposal: the project would convert a former dental office into a small-scale commercial kitchen and retail entry, repave and restripe the parking lot for three spaces (including one ADA stall), provide one bicycle parking stall, and install a refuse enclosure. "We do ask for that detailed landscaping plan to be submitted," Emily said, and staff recommended approval with conditions on landscape, parking, refuse screening and architectural detailing.

Dave Kacelniak, the project architect, and the applicants discussed site access and security concerns. Dave described an aluminum service ramp to provide access to the lower kitchen level and said the design team plans to screen the ramp and loading landing with fencing and landscaping. He also explained that planting along the street edge has failed in the past because of salt spray from plows; the design team said they would coordinate with the city forester to pick salt-tolerant species.

Commissioners asked for clarification on which connections would be public pedestrian routes, the ramp's visibility to neighbors, and the proposed signage. Staff said signage and any large window treatments will return to the commission as a separate signage review. The commission approved the site landscaping and architectural design review by voice vote, adding conditions to require marked ADA parking, bicycle parking, a submitted landscape plan reviewed by city forestry, screening for service areas and required building permits before opening.