Wal-Mart's plans to expand will bring more to Cranberry than just a bigger store. It'll be a more attractive one, too.

Cranberry planning director Michelle Mixell said plans that will soon be before the township planning commission show a building with lots of architectural enhancements.

"They're breaking up that long, flat, monotonous facade to give the bigger building some architectural interest,'' she said.

Staff has been working on the design with Wal-Mart representatives for months.

The company's decision to liven up the predominantly gray building comes at a time when Cranberry is putting into place new land development laws that discourage developers from building the big-box style of commercial structure like the traditional Wal-Mart.

Mixell said Wal-Mart is planning to construct awnings, build a decorative entryway with a series of arches and plant a variety of foundation plants at the front of the building along Route 19.

The company announced its plans to expand a year ago.

Wal-Mart is taking a portion of neighboring land in the Cranberry Square shopping complex. The former Michael's crafts store is to be razed to make way for the 75,985-square-foot expansion plus an outdoor seasonal area of 4,670 square feet. The existing building is 119,952 square feet.

The planning commission is scheduled to discuss the plans at its public meeting at 7 p.m. next Wednesday in the municipal center on Rochester Road.

Township staff have said they are pleased the company is making a commitment to its existing site.