The Richmond Hill Planning and Zoning Commission recently granted preliminary approval for three new businesses for the new Kroger shopping plaza.

If city council grants final approval next week, Jalapeno's Mexican restaurant, Subway sandwich shop and a pool supply store will be on their way to the center.

"I'm excited about the new businesses coming to town," Mayor Richard Davis said. "Subway's reputation speaks for itself, and Jalapeno's is a really nice restaurant chain."

In other P&Z business, developers of the proposed 35,000 square-foot new Food Lion shopping center presented a sketch plan of the center, which is proposed to be built next to Bryan Bank at the intersection of Harris Trail Road and Hwy. 17.

A representative with the Richmond Hill Harvey's, which is under the Food Lion banner, said Harvey's will most likely close if the new Food Lion opens. This, along with the old Kroger building, could potentially leave two vacated grocery stores at the area of Hwys. 17 and 144.

This is the second sketch plan of the center submitted to P&Z. The first one was reviewed last May, with the recommendation given to add parking and get D.O.T. approval. This time, the P&Z commissioners and P&Z Director Steve Scholar instructed developers to again increase parking and to also plan for a driveway around the building for delivery trucks.