Downtown Ripon could soon welcome a new addition.

The Planning Commission just gave the green light – in this case, approving the Major Site Review request for DPG Investments – for construction of two commercial two-story buildings with a utility building and courtyard on the corner of Second Street and North Stockton Avenue.

The project would consist of two parcels in the Central Business District adjacent to the Ripon Print Studio.

Director of Planning Ken Zuidervaart described the plan for parcel one as “a two-story office building containing 11,824 square feet which is 5,912 square feet on each floor.

“The exterior will be a mix of brick façade to tie into the downtown arches and architect – the building will contain an elevator and include an exterior and interior stairway.”

Building two would have a main floor area of about 7,150 square feet with a proposed 3,575 square foot indoor mezzanine area.

That building would also contain a mixture of brick façade with areas of galvanized metal siding, Zuidervaart said.

“There will be a common courtyard area and other improvements including curb, gutter and sidewalk, reconstruction of the driveway approaches from Second Street and First Street accessing the alley as well as reconstruction of the alley with concrete pavers,” he added.

Parking appeared to be sticking point.

“As with any business in the downtown district, parking is always a concern,” Zuidervaart said.

Commissioners were concerned about that by approving the project “we would knowingly be making a parking problem worse (in downtown).”

Chairman Debra Van Essen said otherwise.

“Coming from a business perspective, to have a commission turn down a great project because of parking spaces does not make sense,” she said.

Zuidervaart noted that the parking lot by the Ripon Recycling Center was not calculated into the number of parking spaces for downtown. But that’s part of future plans.

“The parking lot will be part of a project is going out for proposal to get a design for the multi-modal station,” he said.

Commissioners such as George Saljian loved the look of the project.

“It’s a great fit for our downtown,” he said while addressing the parking concerns.

Commissioner Gary Barton added that ultimately the market will take care of itself one way or another.

“San Francisco has a major parking problem but people figured it out,” he said.