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The Stokesdale Planning Board gave thumbs up to a new business complex Thursday night, voting 4-1 to approve a site plan for the Stokesdale Crossing complex on N.C. 68 near Prince Edward Road.

The request from Big Sky Developers calls for two buildings, which will consist of office space, retail use and a building supply store with inside storage. The site is zoned for commercial use highway business.

The proposed complex will become the headquarters for Bell Architectural Windows, owned by local resident Tom Bell. It will consist of 22,500 square feet, 91 parking spaces and required landscaping on 4.2 acres of the property in line with town ordinance.

The plan was approved on the condition that both lighting and stormwater runoff management plans are reviewed by the county planning department and meet town ordinances.

The board also gave unanimous approval to A New Dawn Realty to convert the "Taylor-Edwards" house, a former doctor's office at 8512 U.S. 158, into a real estate office.

"It's a historically significant building... there's very few people who could use the house as it stands," said Mayor Pro Tem John Flynt, who lives next to the site.

"The alternative is that someone come and bulldoze the property down and start with something small. I would hate to see that."

Both measures will come before the Town Council on Aug. 16. In other business, the board:

* heard a presentation from Lydia McIntyre with the Greensboro Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization regarding the proposed collector street plan.

The countywide plan identifies existing and proposed collector streets -- which connect residential streets to minor and major thoroughfares -- to identify future extension needs. The board voted 4-1 to recommend the Town Council seek further public input and possibly assign a committee to review the plan.

L Voted Unanimously To Recommend The Revised Land Use Plan To The Council

l voted to reappoint Stephen Louie as Planning Board chairman and Robert L. Casey as vice chairman.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7157 or rseals@news-record.com