By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Developers are redesigning the Pine Trail Road exit from Uptown Square, the Barnes and Noble shopping center under construction across from Fayette Pavilion, but they won't have to repaint one of the stores.

The shopping center exit has been the key point in a storm of controversy surrounding the shopping center ever since it was first proposed two years ago.

Residents of the subdivisions behind the shopping center strongly opposed any curb cut on their road at all, but when city leaders began to support the notion, residents argued instead for an exit-only curb cut.

That's what was approved, but residents say now that it's built, the exit is designed in such a way that it's easy for motorists to use it as an entrance.

City planning director Maurice Ungaro last week reported to the Planning Commission that developer Concordia Properties Inc. is redesigning the exit and the changes will be approved by Mayor Kenneth Steele, who has been adamant is demanding that the driveway be changed.

Meanwhile, the Planning Commission last week gave Concordia a pass on the color of the Linens and Things store in the center.

Commissioners voted 2-1, with Allan Feldman opposed, to allow the store's color to stay as is and not require repainting it the color originally approved as part of the shopping center's development plan.

Commissioners said the color is acceptable as long as the exit and some minor problems with lighting and the design of drainage downspouts are taken care of, but Feldman didn't think so.

“They still have avoided the due process. I think they should go in and redo the whole thing,” said Feldman.