HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Planning Commission may be ready to make stricter regulations on small-box or dollar-type stores during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The changes would force these types of businesses to offer fresh or fresh/frozen food items for sale. This would include dairy products and unprocessed foods that are frozen.

The purpose is to give those who shop at the dollar-type stores better choices for food items. It would call for small-box stores to dedicate 10% of their retail space to such food items. The changes, which are already in place in other cities, are starting to have an effect on Dollar General stores. The largest small-box chain is beginning to add fresh food options to its stores; staff wants to ensure that the residents of the city are getting, at a minimum, these options from the stores. Hutchinson and South Hutchinson are home to five such stores.

This ordinance also includes items that are minimally processed, such as dairy and dairy alternative products like milk, yogurt and cheese. Apart from the dairy language, the definition was drafted from a similar ordinance in Kansas City. It also calls for conditional use permits to be filed with the planning commission allowing staff, the public and decision-makers to review each project on its unique circumstances and allow public comment on the proposal.

Tuesday’s Hutchinson Planning Commission meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Hutchinson city offices.