By John Howell Sr.

The site and building design standards for three new commercial projects proposed for Batesville received approval after review by the city’s Planning Commission Monday night.

Commission members unanimously approved the site and building standards for Batesville Carwash USA Express, proposed for construction near Chili’s location on Dr. John R. Lovelace Drive; a medical office building at the corner of Court and Central Streets and a coin-operated laundromat on Van Voris Street near the Thomas Street intersection.

Jody Freeman of Development Consulting told the planning commission members that the proposed car wash building would compare “apples-to-apples” to a similar facility in Oxford.

Freeman answered questions from commissioners about the appearance and landscaping planned for the facility.

“Where does all the wastewater go?” chairman Dr. Richard Corson asked.

Freeman replied that the liquid will first go through oil and water separators that clean water before it is introduced to the city’s sewage system.

“There will be at least one attendant at all times; … there will be no washing outside the enclosed wash,” Freeman said.

“Will electrical be under ground or above ground?” Commissioner David Billingsley asked.

“Normally, it will be underground,” Freeman replied.

“That’s a requirement,” City Code Administrator Pam Comer said.

Contractor Chad Weaver represented Drs. David Ball and Lee Linder, presenting an architect’s drawing of the proposed 3,128 square foot medical office building.

“This one is going to have a deep red-tone brick with kind of an Oxford gray architectural shingle,” Weaver said. “The parking area has two existing large trees; we’re leaving those and we’re going to fix some type of colorful landscaping around those trees,” Weaver said.

Weaver described addition finish details, designed to enhance the building’s “curb appeal,” including underground wiring, he said.

“What kind of offices will it house?” Corson asked.

“It’ll be like general office space; possibly, it could be like a home health office, maybe nurses or even some type of hospice agency,” Weaver replied.

The building will be constructed on a vacant lot diagonally across the street from Tyler Smith’s law office and directly across the street from Cube Ice Company, Weaver said.

Amy Thomas brought drawings of the laundromat building she plans for Van Voris near Smith Cleaners.

Batesville aldermen on March 15 granted Thomas’s request for the property to be rezoned to C-2 classification that allows coin-operated laundries.

Thomas described the proposed building’s colors, exterior door arrangement and lighting, a canopy along the front entrance and landscaping.

“You’re going to have one person there to do somebody’s laundry?” Billingsley asked.

“Fluff or iron; there’ll be an attendant on site,” Thomas replied.

Thomas told the commissioners that she plans to scale back the height of shrubs that were depicted on the architect’s drawing. Commissioners approved Thomas’s proposal contingent on her resubmitting the landscaping plans depicting the smaller shrubbery.

The three developers submitted their site and building design standards for the Planning Commission’s review in compliance with design standards recently incorporated into the city’s building code.

Commissioners who attended the Monday meeting, in addition to Corson and Billingsley, were Barbara Bruce, Willie King, Lou Verda Miles, Everett Redd and Billy Downs.

The commissioners also dealt with several items of routine business.

Batesville Main Street Director Colleen Clark made a request for use of the Square for Springfest on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14.

Clark also made a request on behalf of the Batesville Farmers Market for use of the Square on Wednesday afternoons starting June 1 and continuing through October 26.

Kenny Anderson requested renewal of conditional use permit which allows him to sell fresh fish from his pickup on the Square on Fridays and Saturdays.

David Dillon, appearing on behalf of Don Mays, requested a conditional use permit to allow him to sell fireworks during season at the Fred’s parking lot.

Bryant’s Shaved Ice, represented by Mr. and Mrs. James Bryant, requested a permit to allow them to operate their business on Panola Plaza Shopping Center during months of warm weather.

Commissioners voted to recommend all five requests for passage by the board of mayor and aldermen.