At the Greenville Planning Commission meeting held Monday at City Hall, it became clear that two local businesses plan to expand and a new industry is coming to town.

Paul Flubacher, president and owner of REF came before the commission to request approval for a development plan for his company.

Fire ripped through the REF building at 301 Industrial Parkway at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 29.

Reports indicated the fire began in the maintenance room and spread throughout the building.

Flubacher told the Commission his company has been trying to get back on track, but a change is needed.

&uot;The insurance company notified me that they are going to go ahead and level the building,&uot;

he said.

&uot;Since we are rebuilding, we want to add an additional 25-feet on the building, creating an additional 3,000 square feet.&uot;

The commission welcomed the news that REF would rebuild, bigger and stronger, and gave its approval.

Another local business, Hainje’s, Inc. Complete Home Furnishings, currently located downtown at 139 W. Commerce St., plans to move.

An architect presented sketches to the commission on what the store’s new facility will look like once it’s completed on the Greenville Bypass.

The store will construct a 20,000 square foot building at the corner of the Greenville Bypass and New Searcy Road, across the street from the new location of Butler County Bank.

There were some questions about drainage once the building is in place, but the architect and the city inspector said that would not be a problem.

One of the residents in the audience asked about the trees lining New Searcy Road and whether they will be removed.

He said a collection was taken to buy the trees and the residents might not like their trees being harmed.

The architect assured all the trees would remain and if any are taken out, they will be replaced.The commission approved that development plan as well.

The third business of the night was a public hearing and request by Jeffery C. McGriff to rezone his property on Cahaba Road.

He said after the meeting he is working with a company in China to build a furniture construction plant and distribution center in Greenville.

The company would sell the furniture throughout the southeast.

A second public hearing was also held in regards to property owned by Bradford O. Womack.

This property borders the Greenville Softball Complex off of AL Highway 10 W.

The request was to rezone the property in order to build a 48-unit apartment complex.

This matter was tabled until the next meeting.

The city inspector reported to the Commission that Hwashin is 70 percent complete, Hysco is 40 percent complete and the new Wal-Mart Supercenter is 62 percent complete.

A subdivision request by Developer Gerald Johnson caused quite a stir during and after the meeting adjourned.

Several in the audience had received notification that it would be discussed during the meeting.

Johnson said the property in question is 3 1/2 acres that is a flood plain.

He wants to join that property with an existing lot in the subdivision and sell it as a full lot.

However, he said the property would only support a home on the front park of the property, while the remainder of the property would not.

He was asked to make clarifications and be ready to present it at the next meeting.

The Commission also tabled a city annexation issue and also a request from Bill Bates to subdivide the property between his restaurant and Ruby Tuesday.

The next meeting will be held on May 3, 2004 at 5 p.m.