The proposal for a Tractor Supply Company store in Fountain Hills will move on to the Town Council after the Planning and Zoning Commission gave its endorsement at its Aug. 28 regular session.

The vote by the commission was 5-1 to approve the concept plan for the site and 5-1 to recommend the council approve a special use permit to allow outdoor display and storage of merchandise.

The council will also consider a development agreement when it hears the request.

Commissioner Gene Slechta cast the dissenting vote on both questions. Slechta asked why an entry drive off Shea Boulevard that appeared on an original plan had been eliminated.

He had concerns about the additional traffic that might spill into the residential neighborhood off Monterey Drive, where the only driveway entry is now located.

Nicholas Brown, with CEG, Inc., the engineering firm for the project, said the nine-foot elevation difference between the project site and Shea Boulevard would require too much fill and may interfere with parking.

Commissioner Mike Archambault asked why the location of the Monterey driveway was moved closer to the residential community bordering the site.

Brown said the drive location was moved into alignment with the one into the developed site across the street for safety reasons.

A resident of the Sunrise Point neighborhood that borders the project site told the commission she has concerns about the location of that driveway and its proximity to the home on the corner of Monterey and Rockwood Drive.

Another resident said she is concerned for her property value if the site is developed with a potentially failed retailer.

She noted there are many empty buildings along Shea now and she does not see the demand for the type of retailer proposed for the location.

Dave Long with Fountain Hills Development Group, LLC, who is developing the property, said many people have a misconception of Tractor Supply Company.

“Heavy equipment is not sold here,” Long said. “This is a hybrid of other types of retailers that we believe will bring customers from all over the East Valley.”

The company has more than 1,400 stores nationwide and is in the process of expanding into Arizona with more than two dozen new store. Ones have recently opened in Wickenburg and Cottonwood.

While the stores have a farm and ranch concept with livestock and agriculture supplies, they also have lawn and garden, patio, clothing and pet supplies.

“We want to be a good partner with the town for the long term,” Long said. “We are a nice retail draw for Fountain Hills that we believe will be an additional draw for other retailers in town.”

Some design concerns raised by commission members seemed to be put to rest by the introduction of what Long described as a new proposal for the exterior elevations.

Archambault and Commission Chair Lloyd Pew said the designs were a great improvement over what had been proposed, particularly on the south elevation that faces Shea Boulevard.

The elevations were unavailable to The Times at this point. Long said there was still an internal approval process required before they were made public. Those drawings should be available by the time the council reviews the plan.