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Home Depot has pledged to polish its parking lot, shore up its shoddy shrubs and plant enough trees to avoid being shut down.
But after a two-hour spanking Thursday from the public and the Millcreek Township Planning Commission, it's clear the modified big-box store is still as controversial as ever.
Threatened with revocation of its conditional-use permit, Home Depot dispatched its lawyer to plead forgiveness from a blunt Planning Commission.
In the end, the commission borrowed a theme from the home-improvement retailer, telling the outlet's operators to fix the problem themselves. By a 6-0 vote, the closure threat was tabled - provided the store complies with Salt Lake County's rules.
"It's frustrating that you have to get out a sledgehammer to whack you people over the head to get you to comply," Commissioner Kevin Oakes said. "We will not be forgiving in the future."
For some 18 months, county planners insist the store at 3398 S. Highland Drive had bucked their repeated demands to fix landscaping, shield bright lights and clean up its junky lot. On Sept. 11, the county sent notice that planners had recommended the store's permit be pulled.
"Salt Lake County doesn't take these things lightly," senior planner Tom Schafer told the commission. He noted Home Depot's "demonstration of bad faith" also has cost taxpayers, who pay the tab for site visits and hearings.
Shawn Ferrin, a Salt Lake City-based attorney for Home Depot, defended the store - he blamed some of the storage violations on a no-nighttime-delivery rule - insisting each violation had been remedied with the exception of replacing two 30-foot "Trees of Heaven."
That didn't pacify Brian Nabors, who lives in the shadow of the store.
"I don't think they've gone far enough," he said. "When the leaves come off the trees, instead of seeing the night stars, we see the glowing red of the Home Depot sign."
Todd Anderson, another neighbor, griped about the dead trees. It could have been avoided, he said, if the management hadn't buried the trunks in so much topsoil.
"The home-improvement experts should know that," he quipped.
Home Depot did get some support - an employee listed charitable works in the community - including a defense from next-door neighbor Sandra Goldberg.
"What did you have before you had Home Depot?" she asked. "A broken-down floral [shop]. Who is perfect among any of us?"
The store stirred controversy three years ago after neighbors warned it was not a good fit. Construction later prompted a lawsuit by residents alleging the retailer was brushing off its zoning responsibilities.
Ferrin says the message now has been heard "loud and clear."
Commissioner Bob Polcha warned the store still could go black unless it remains in compliance.
"Don't think it won't happen," Polcha said.