Goodwill gets conditional approval for donation center at 3656 Maslin Road

The City of Green Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 16 conditionally approved Goodwill Industries’ request to change the use of the building at 3656 Maslin Road into a donation center, retail store and job-training location.

Nan McClenaghan, a Goodwill representative, told the commission the agency has sought a Green site for more than 15 years and proposed to initially use about 25,000 of the building’s roughly 49,000 square feet for retail, client meeting space and a donation-processing area. “Our retail is a means to an end,” McClenaghan said, describing the stores as places where people can build work skills.

Planning staff said the property—previously a Waggler/Home store and an InfoCision call center—has ample existing parking (about 282 spaces today, which the applicant would reduce to roughly 260 with site changes) and includes an existing dock that will serve the donation-processing operation. Staff recommended conditional approval with contingencies to address screening, dumpster gates, a landscape buffer and fire-department comments.

Commissioners and staff discussed operational details. McClenaghan said typical store hours would be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, with the store aiming to open before year-end if change-of-use approvals and an occupancy certificate are completed. She said typical on-site staffing would be eight to nine employees at a time, with about 20 total employees including part-time and seasonal roles. Non-sale items would move by semi trailers to Goodwill’s Waterloo facility two to three times per week, typically in the early morning.

Members focused on screening the rear dock and parked trailers. The applicant said a vinyl “dogwood-style” fence could be installed in front of the existing concrete wall and would run about 145 feet; an 8-foot height would place roughly 2–3 feet above the current railing. Staff emphasized a multi-row, staggered landscape buffer and suggested the applicant work with the city arborist to improve long-term screening and species diversity.

The commission’s motion approving the project spelled out conditions including: install the dogwood-style 8-foot vinyl screening to hide trailers; provide detailed plans for the dumpster enclosure and gates; deliver a landscaping plan for reestablishing the buffer along Corporate Woods Parkway (to be reviewed with staff and the arborist); remove the existing pylon sign and revitalize the brick planter; paint the restrictor island at the Madison Road access drive yellow to improve visibility; address any fire-department comments; police the outside donation area daily and commit to no outdoor donation boxes without city approval; and coat and restripe the parking lot in 2025. The motion was seconded and passed on roll call.

A resident, Craig Sanders, told the commission he would work with the applicant to refine the fence and planting plan so the site would be a good neighbor.

The conditional approval allows Goodwill to proceed to permit review and requires the applicant to return with required details on screening, landscaping and permits before final occupancy.