The residents of Planterra Ridge subdivision have found some common ground with Photocircuits, and that should be seen at the next Planning Commission meeting, scheduled for May 10.

Members of the Photocircuits action committee, organized to discuss various differences concerning the Photocircuits operation and the effect it has on residential neighbors, reached an agreement Monday night on a site plan relating to a Photocircuits variance request recently tabled by the City Council. The site plan will now be considered by the Planning Commission before the City Council revisits the variance issue.

Photocircuits has requested a reduction in the setback requirement at the front of their Dividend Drive property for the construction of additional parking. The company has consented to give up an equal amount of setback in the rear of the property, where Planterra Ridge is located, so that the residents will have more of a buffer between themselves and the industrial operation.

Committee members studied two site plans at this week's meeting ­ with and without the variance. Exactly one week after Photocircuits representative Mark Bunker told the residents that they could decide on whether to go ahead with the variance, the residents gave the variance plan their support, with some conditions.

The Planterra Ridge contingent would like a guarantee that the detention pond will always be located at the rear of the property, along with a stipulation that any future building built on the back of the property has no noise-producing equipment on its back wall.

Photocircuits has no problem with either request, according to Bunker, but the legality of such stipulations is uncertain, and attorneys for both Photocircuits and the city are examining the issue.

"We're not sure that is something you can or cannot put into a variance," he said of the detention pond request. "Conceptually, that's [in back] where we would put it anyway."

As for the proposed second building, which Photocircuits currently has no plans to build, the requirement concerning the back wall gets sticky when the possibility of a different company owning that property in the future is considered.

But as far as the overall land-use plan for the tract, Bunker is pleased with the progress that has been made. He expects the group to continue working on other issues, such as overall noise, for quite some time.

"I'm kind of hoping this committee exists forever," he said. "We're certainly committed to still meeting with them on an ongoing basis."

After this Monday's meeting, the committee will likely taper off and meet every other week or a little less frequent than that.

Residential members of the committee said Monday night that they would begin notifying the remainder of the subdivision as soon as possible about the decision reached by the committee. Photocircuits reps said earlier in the evening that they needed a decision on the variance so that they would know how to proceed with the Planning Commission concerning the site plan.

Mayor Bob Lenox made it clear at the meeting that he felt the variance was in the best interests of the residents, because it would result in a larger buffer between the homes and the industrial site. He added that his intention, and that of the Council, is to always look out for the neighboring residential communities in any situation such as this.

Councilwoman Annie McMenamin seconded that sentiment. "I think we've always favored the neighborhoods" when resolving differences like this, she said.

There are still a few things to iron out, but the plan could get the OK from the city within a few weeks.

"The Planning Commission can approve it contingent on the variance, so that as soon as the City Council votes, everything is approved," said Bunker.

After that, some details such as grading will have to be approved by the Building Department. But Photocircuits is ready to get moving.