The Ripon Planning Commission paved the way for construction of a portion of the 49,000 square feet of buildings along Doak Boulevard.

The approved negative declaration and major site plan permit for the proposed Kaizen River LLC development is Phase 1 construction of four buildings on a 3.2-acre site in the light industrial area of town.

Of that, the two buildings of Phase 1 were cleared to move forward with plan for construction on the eastern-most parcel.

"The proposed buildings will be 25 feet in height, which does comply with our municipal code, which allows up to 35 feet," said Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart at the April 19 meeting.

As a reference, he used the nearby One Church —also 35 feet tall —as a height comparison to the planned buildings.

"All buildings are intended to be leased out as flexible light industrial lease space," Zuidervaart said.

 The exterior of the buildings will be a mixture of different combinations of architectural steel sheathing on the entire building, glass panels and metal gable roof style.

The buildings are expected to be occupied as contractor suites with possibly an office, according to applicant Nick Seward.

The average size of each suite is estimated at 2,500 to 3,000 square feet.

"The clients are excited to develop this one and they plan to start the project as quickly as they can -- they may start Phase 2 at the same time as Phase 1," he said.

Seward is no stranger to the Planning Commission.

Commissioner David Collins, for one, indicated that he favored the design of the last building that Seward brought to the Commission.

He also complimented the looks of the buildings planned for the Doak Boulevard site and was pleased to hear that corrugated materials will once again be used as insulation to help reduce sound going through.

Zuidervaart added that the City has a noise ordinance.