The battle over Fry Street’s redevelopment played out a final time before Denton planning commissioners Wednesday, during a meeting that revealed frayed nerves on both sides of the hotly debated project.

“I don’t think anybody has had this much trouble building something in Denton before,” an exasperated George Watkins told fellow commissioners, when disagreements briefly threatened to postpone consideration of a development plan for Fry Street Village.

Ultimately, the Planning and Zoning Commission wrapped up its review of the project, which would replace the razed buildings at Hickory and Fry streets with retail shops and restaurants.

By votes of 5-1, commissioners approved the developer’s appeal for an additional 50 parking spaces but rejected a request to use an existing driveway off Oak Street that city planners say is too close to an intersection to meet current city codes.

The focus now shifts to the City Council, which is expected to vote Dec. 11 whether to allow a drive-through lane for a proposed CVS Pharmacy at Fry and Hickory streets.

Project manager Tim Sandifer of Houston-based United Equities has said CVS would not locate there without a drive-through, and that the entire redevelopment project would fall apart without CVS. The planning commission last month voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the drive-through lane.

Critics say a drive-through would pollute air and endanger pedestrians in the heavily walked area bordering the University of North Texas.

Wednesday’s meeting drew fewer spectators than some prior meetings over Fry Street Village, but emotions still ran high at times.

When Commissioner Walter Eagleton suggested postponing a vote on one matter, Sandifer balked, saying his company had already “bent over backwards” to gain city approval of the project.

One commissioner clashed with city planners over whether Fry Street qualified as a pedestrian-oriented district under city code. Although the Fry Street Small Area Plan calls for “pedestrian friendly streets,” the development code includes conflicting information on which zoning districts qualify as pedestrian-oriented, Commissioner Patrice Lyke said.

“We’re looking at some definition problems,” she said.

Lyke argued that the area should qualify as pedestrian-oriented. Under those criteria, the proposed pharmacy building wouldn’t meet city code because it lacks enough windows in its brick walls facing Fry and Hickory streets, she said.

Watkins, commission chairman, questioned adding more windows in an area he said was vulnerable to criminal activity.

Resident Chris Flemmons strongly disagreed, suddenly approaching the podium to say he’d been around Fry Street for 20 years and had never known of a window being knocked out. However, some business owners in the Fry Street area have reported problems with vandalism in the area.

Commissioners approved an alternative development plan, which included the additional parking spaces, on the condition that the developer would add more windows or photo display areas along the wall exteriors. Lyke cast the dissenting vote.

Interim Planning Director Brian Lockley said the city building department also would review the building plans to make sure they meet the city’s minimum standards.

As for the driveway, commissioners agreed with city planners’ recommendation to deny the continued use of a driveway located 52 feet from the intersection of Oak and Fry streets. Commissioner James King dissented.

City planner Lori Shelton said redevelopment projects must comply with current city codes, and driveways now must be at least 170 feet from intersections for safety reasons.

Michael Clark of Winkelmann & Associates Inc., the project’s civil engineering consultant, said he could alter the plans to do without the driveway.

The meeting did not include a public hearing on Fry Street Village, but several residents filled out cards to speak against the project. Resident Mary Anderson complained of the “piecemeal” nature of commissioners’ review, saying they were missing the big picture.

“There’s no vision or plan, and public safety is getting short-shrifted,” Anderson said.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Denton City Council meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11

Where: City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St.

Why: The council will consider approving a drive-through lane for a proposed CVS Pharmacy at Fry and Hickory streets.