The Grand Rapids Planning Commission dropped a potential wrecking ball on Aquinas’ plans to build a new, 64-bed residence hall last Thursday in a 4-3 vote.

“I find it offensive,” said Commissioner Shaula Johnston after reviewing the College’s $2.25 million architectural plan. “It doesn’t look like an Aquinas dorm to me,” she said. “It looks like an apartment building.”

At issue was the building’s aesthetics. The plan proposed by Aquinas called for a combination of brick and vinyl siding. That didn’t sit well with a majority of the commissioners, including Johnston, who remarked that the College was “overly concerned” about the final price-tag.

“We were disappointed,” said Bill Shefferly, chief financial officer at the College. “We certainly didn’t expect this.” Shefferly did not say whether or not Aquinas will request reconsideration or appeal the ruling. To meet the commissioners’ demands, Aquinas would potentially have to pay $100,000 more than the project’s original cost estimate.

Assistant City Attorney Stan Bakita told planning commissioners they were entering a “gray area” in imposing such rigid building requirements.

Shefferly noted that not all of the buildings on the Aquinas campus are made entirely of brick.

Adding to the commission’s concerns over aesthetics, Johnston argued that the College’s plans did not include adequate noise protection.

“I like college-age kids,” said Johnston, an adjunct professor at Grand Rapids Community College. “I don’t want to have to hear them when I’m home.”