By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Clanton is one step closer to having the option of grocery pickup at Walmart.

During a meeting on July 11, the Clanton Planning Commission gave unanimous preliminary approval, pending approval of the site plan, to Walmart for a 2,000 square-feet building to be used for the program.

Grocery pickup, where items are ordered online for in-store pickup, is already available at certain locations across the country. According to Walmart.com, this added service is free.

Clanton Planning Commission members reviewed two artist renderings for the building exterior and signage that will be used.

Specific parking spaces near the addition will be reserved for pickup customers.

Building inspector Gene Martin said of the two designs one had a more modern look, while the style that used block for the entire building was a better match to the existing building’s architecture.

The planning commissioners agreed that the block building would be the better option.

The addition will be a pre-fabricated building on a concrete footing, according to Martin.  An architectural drawing and site plan would still be required for the building before it could move forward.

Also during the meeting, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a plan for Jeff Sumrall to move forward with construction of a building identical to his existing one, pending submission of final drawings.