The Planning Commission on Monday, after hearing from an overflow crowd, voted to approve a variance that will allow a Publix grocery to be built in St. Elmo.

One more variance is needed from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Three commission members voted against, and Chairman Ethan Collier said he was also opposed, but the majority gave its approval. The commission has the final say so on variance requests.

The Regional Planning Agency staff had recommended denial, saying the latest plan for the project at the former site of the Mount Vernon restaurant and Pizza Hut still did not have the appropriate urban design.

Mike Price, representing Publix, said a number of changes had been made after input from the opposition.

He said several shops will be built in separate buildings along South Broad Street, and he said the parking area had been reduced by 10 percent.

He said there will be a pavilion area at the corner of Broad Street and St. Elmo Avenue where the Riverwalk will pass through.

Mr. Price said the grocery will be built in an old industrial style to match the surrounding community.

Opponents said the latest design still does not jive with the Broad Street plan, which calls for buildings up close to the street.

City Councilman Darrin Ledford made the motion to approve. He said the new design was "almost identical" to what opponents earlier said they were looking for. He said, "In fact, it's better."

The commission was told that property owner Jeff Messenger plans to acquire some nearby property from TDOT and an additional street building may go in there.

One of the three no votes was City Transportation Director Blythe Bailey.

Chairman Collier, who only votes in case of a tie, said it was an issue of whether South Broad Street would wind up looking like Frazier Avenue and North Market Street or Signal Mountain Boulevard and Brainerd Road.

He said the grocery store might be gone from the site in 20 years and it then could be converted to something else.

Those who spoke in favor of proceeding with the Publix included Ann Weeks, past president of the South Broad Redevelopment group. She said there is a high desire in the area for the popular store. She said the group was instrumental in developing the current plan for Broad Street and when it was done, they did not consider that it would be "rigid."

Also in favor was Mike Harrell, current president of the South Broad redevelopment group. He said the group raised money to go after the Riverwalk themselves and was instrumental in doing the maser plan. He said that they have had requests that did not fit the area plan. He, too, said it was not intended to be "rigid" to preclude variances.

Ron Ray, president of the Lookout Valley Neighborhood Association, said there was support from his group. He said competition helps keep prices lower.

Lookout Mountain, Tn. Mayor Carol Mutter urged approval. She said it would be a blessing for economic development and that people on Lookout and other areas want it. Publix is a very reputable company so "Why would it be denied?", she said. She also said that a multi-story grocery store does not make sense.

Another proponent said from a small business point of view, putting a business there now is a risky business. A high end grocery store as an anchor at that end of Broad would be very beneficial for that area, he stated.

A number of St. Elmo residents spoke against granting the variance, saying they sought a development that would feature more of an urban format and promote walkability.

The leader of Chattanooga for Responsible Development.sided with the St. Elmo speakers.