By John Howell
Downtown business owner Yvonne Taylor’s proposal to change the front of the Sweet Shop and the Veranda received quick approval from the Batesville Planning Commission Monday afternoon.

“With the Polar Express coming, I think it’s real important for me to upgrade the facade of the Sweet Shop,” Taylor said. She presented drawings from architectural designer Angela Clanton that showed new paint, signs, awning and gooseneck lighting.

“We’re going to be loaded up for when the Polar Express comes here,” Taylor said.
In other business during the monthly meeting of the planning commission:

• Commissioners approved Buster Helmes request to be allowed to subdivide a lot on Panola Avenue where his store, laundromat and car wash are located.

“We’re trying to sell the store,” Helmes said. The laundromat is being demolished to create parking space for the store.

“We’re keeping the car wash,” Helmes said;

• Commissioners also approved a site and building design review for 141 Public Square.  Property owner Mike Fudge presented paint colors and said that he would mount permanent shutters over existing windows;

• Jonathan Johns plans Magnolia Tooling at 325 Brewer Road. The addition’s exterior will be constructed from the same materials as the existing structure. His site and design review was approved with little discussion;

• A waiting room addition for Pride Hyundai was also approved. Contractor Harry Guckert presented the site and design for a separate structure that will be connected to the auto dealer’s existing building by a covered walkway;

• Quality Auto Parts owner Steve McMinn’s site and design review for a 12 by 24 office building to be located at the site a former used car lot on Perkins Lane was approved.

“I haven’t been able to rent it without a building,” McMinn told commissioners.
 
The approval was conditioned on provision for permanent installation at the site.

Code Administrator Pam Comer, Code Enforcement Officer Andy Berryhill discussed with commissioners an apartment complex that had painted without having submitted colors for review.

“They painted the brick white,” Berryhill said, describing paint at the Meadowview Apartments on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. “The plain brick looked better.”

Comer said that she will notify the apartment owners and ask what they can do about the building.