A new dance studio may be coming to Dowagiac by the end of the year.

On Monday, the Dowagiac Planning Commission approved a site plan request by ANCON Construction on behalf of McLoughlin Dance Studio, which would allow the company to begin construction of a commercial dance building on Pokagon Street, behind Shopko.

Representatives with the contractors responsible for the project attended Monday’s meeting, answering questions from the commission about their plans for the building. They also presented blueprints, mockups and other layouts to the members present that evening.

“The plan is for a commercial dance studio,” said Ben Baker, with Wightman & Associates. “We have parking shown, for 25 spaces, which is one more than is required by code.”

The site plans provide room for expansion toward the backend of the property, should the tenets choose to pursue that avenue at a later date, Baker said. They also have space for a future loading area should the building change its use type, he added.

“We have landscaping out along Pokagon Street,” Baker said. “Storm water requirements have been met on site as well.”

When asked about when construction could finish on the site, Sean Welty, with ANCON, said that it could be wrapped up by year’s end.

“We intend to likely start sometime this summer and be done by before winter,” he said.

The commission also approved a request from C.M. Architecture P.A. on behalf of O’Reilly Auto Parts for a new building located at 56271 M-51 S. The parcel will be located between Honor Credit Union and the Heartland building, where the former Chrysler dealership was located. No representatives from either the construction company or O’Reilly were present at the meeting.

Public hearings were held before the commission approved of the resolutions, though no comments were made before the sessions were closed.