Wells Fargo seeks final site approval at Spring Hill Town Crossing

Jay Powell, Columbia Daily Herald
·2 min read
A Wells Fargo bank.
A Wells Fargo bank.

Wells Fargo is seeking final site plan approval to construct a new Spring Hill bank as part of the city's Town Crossing multi-use development off Jim Warren Road.

The site plan application appeared on the Municipal Planning Commission's study session agenda Monday, which culminates the more than two-year process for approval. The final vote will be included in the board's November meeting, at which planning staff recommends approval.

If approved, the bank will include a 3,000-square foot building, as well as two ATM drive-thru lanes.

Preliminary plans were initially approved in June of 2021, but underwent a major modification in 2022 to be in accordance with the Town Crossing planning guidelines.

Spring Hill Development Director Peter Hughes said the modifications included changing the facility's color pallet. There are also ongoing discussions as to what percentage of the building would be glass, or if having too much would create a potential security risk, particularly to the rear of the building.

The 50-acre Spring Hill Towne Crossing development would feature more than 50,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and/or office space, along with a 30,500 square-foot grocery store, a 120-room hotel, more than 300 multi-family units and a convenience store/gas station.
The 50-acre Spring Hill Towne Crossing development would feature more than 50,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and/or office space, along with a 30,500 square-foot grocery store, a 120-room hotel, more than 300 multi-family units and a convenience store/gas station.

However, the final decision regarding any further design modifications would have to be approved by the planning commission.

"We can continue that conversation, and I don't think we would be against it, but I'm not the design review [board]. They are," Hughes said. "For the record, we had a previous request by a utility company who couldn't meet all of the design requirements in our downtown district. And for safety and security reasons, we made some modifications that allowed them to move forward with their project."

Commissioner Jonathan Duda expressed concerns regarding the facility's dumpster design, particularly if it would be durable to withstand multiple commercial use. Duda also requested an updated copy of the design "pattern book," which Hughes said he will try to secure prior to the planning commission's next meeting.

"I have emailed the master developer multiple times on previous things and am looking for a consolidated version," Hughes said. "I've been trying for several months to get an updated pattern book that has all of the previous modifications."

Tom Chapman of SG Design and lead architect on the project, said Wells Fargo typically does not produce waste in excess that would require multiple pickups each week.

"The preference is actually to not have a dumpster if they are not required to have one," Chapman said.

Wells Fargo also has a maintenance and property management team that inspects each site four times a year, which would replace any damaged property such as the dumpster.

"I like to hear that. That's great," Planning Chairman Elizabeth Droke said.

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Wells Fargo seeks final site approval at Spring Hill Town Crossing