The Lakeville Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for a nine-lot commercial development and amendments to the city's sign ordinance during its March 6 meeting.

The commission unanimously approved the Marketplace at Cedar development, proposed by ISG Inc. on behalf of OPAN Investment Company for property at the southeast corner of 179th Street and Cedar Avenue. Developer representative Pete Carbono said the project will include a bank, grocer, coffee shop, dental office, quick-service restaurant, oil change facility, car wash and daycare, with room for two additional businesses.

The development requires a conditional use permit because one lot lacks direct public street frontage. Access will be provided through a shared internal driveway system connecting to 179th Street and the newly constructed Glanda Way. Traffic exiting the development must use Glanda Way to reach Glacier Way, as the 179th Street access allows only right turns into the site.

The commission also approved amendments to the city's sign ordinance that provide greater flexibility for businesses. The changes allow unlimited numbers of wall signs within existing square footage limits and permit signs on any building wall that doesn't face residential areas. Previously, businesses were limited to one or two wall signs that had to face public streets.

Planning consultant Dan Lick said the sign ordinance changes stemmed from a previous variance request by Midwest ENT medical clinic. Rather than approve a variance, the commission chose to modify the ordinance to benefit all businesses while maintaining the same total signage area limits. Both approved items will go to the City Council on March 17.