The parking lot behind City Grocery is getting spruced up.

On Monday, the Courthouse Historic Preservation Commission approved plans for the parking lot that include demolishing existing asphalt, installing StormTech chambers and reconstructing all curbs and gutters in the area.

In addition to the underground work, a new dumpster enclosure and landscaping and parking islands will be constructed to meet the current requirements of the city’s Land Development Code.

The city received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to install a StormTech detention system underneath the existing parking lot, which will mitigate water issues in this area. StormTech chambers are manufactured to be used under parking lots, roadways and heavy earth loads.

The proposed dumpster enclosure will be brick with metal doors to match other enclosures built by the city in recent years.

“It will look very much like what we have near the parking garage,” said project manager Mark Levy.

The city is also wanting to replace existing rear decks from the businesses that have the back of the building facing the parking lot, and replace them with steel structures; however, those plans have not yet been finalized with property owners.

As a part of the project, the existing rear decks will be removed from the businesses fronting Van Buren, where rear facades face the parking lot.

Levy said about six to nine parking spaces will be lost but that it will be worth it once the project is complete.

“This is going to function a lot better,” he said.

The commission approved the plans unanimously.