Little Caesar's seeks approval for location

A site approval plan for the chain is on the agenda for Thursday's meeting of the city's planning commission.

Pat McMillian has requested approval for the site plan for the new restaurant, to be located at 1207 North Main St.

The building is planned to be a 4,921 square foot structure to be built on the out parcel of the previously approved Microtel site.

Last October, the planning commission approved site plans for a new four-story, 60-plus room Microtel hotel to be located next to the Huddle House and the current site of Dennis Young Insurance Agency, however, the economic downturn delayed the start of work.

A proposed expansion of the Belmont Avenue Historic District will be before the commission as well.

Residents have requested that homes at 502, 511, 513, 517, 602, 606, 607, 708 and 709 Belmont Ave. be added to the historic district.

The Shelbyville Historic Zoning Commission recommended and approved the request in April.

The commission will also begin discussion on design guidelines, which was postponed last month so that all members could attend and participate.

They will review six pages a month and, after they are passed, the commission will also act as a design review commission, and will give feedback to builders on site plans and take a more active role in the process.

The design guidelines are intended to be only recommendations to firms and individuals submitting site plans to the city, but will give builders an idea of what is expected or favored by the city.

Commission members will also look over how the proposed guidelines are currently written and over the next several meetings, will make adjustments.

In March, several members expressed concern about how the guidelines were to be worded, pointing out that the difference between "should" and "will" can be a big issue with some who might want to build here.