NATCHEZ — Regions Bank is one step closer to building a new branch on Canal Street in Natchez.

The bank received approvals from the Natchez Planning Commission at the commission’s Thursday meeting. The bank seeks to build a new branch at 373 S. Canal St. and relocate its Franklin Street branch to that location.

The commission approved requests to combine two lots on the property into one, approve a variance of a requirement that prohibits drive-thrus to be built within 100 feet of a residence and to zone a portion of the property from residential to commercial.

Natchez City Planner Riccardo Giani said an objection to the bank’s application was filed with the commission, but it was not an objection to the construction of the bank.

“The basis of their concerns was the future development of the land that fronts on Milburn Street,” Giani said. “Regions Bank’s representative stated that the bank has no intention of selling that piece of land to another business. In (the event) that did happen, it would have to come before the commission again. Additionally, the (city’s) site plan review committee would likely be very opposed to a business being accessed by the very narrow streets of Milburn and Wall.”

The next step for Regions will be to receive approval of the planning commission’s decision to rezone the property from the Natchez Board of Aldermen, which is scheduled to hear the matter Dec. 13, Giani said.

The last step in city approvals for Regions Bank is to make the recommended modifications to the facade of the building per the Natchez Preservation Commission.

At its Nov. 9 meeting, preservation commissioners voiced concerns and opinions about the design of the proposed bank to be built at the location of the former Isle of Capri Casino warehouse.

The commission voted to allow the demolition of the current structures on the property that have sat vacant since the closure of Isle of Capri in October 2015, but asked for changes to be made to the building’s design.

Concerns included the appearance of some sides of the building, with commissioners saying that the visible back of the building needed to look like the front of the building that will face Canal Street.

Concerns were also raised about the usage of the neon green color Regions uses in marketing on the building.

The preservation commission is scheduled to review modifications to the bank’s design at its Dec. 14 meeting.

Natchez Regions President Charlie Speed has said with the advent of technology that enables customers to utilize banking services without needing to visit a branch, Regions no longer needs the large building it currently occupies on Franklin Street.

New Orleans hotelier Warren Reuther will reportedly purchase the Franklin Street building. Reuther has said he plans to convert the building to a 65-room boutique hotel.