The Home Depot Inc. made it official Wednesday when the Georgia-based home improvement giant submitted plans to build a 103,000-square-foot store and 28,100-square-foot garden center at the north end of Redmond.

Redmond’s planning officials think the quality of the building’s construction could set the tone for the rest of the north end’s development in the future.

The Home Depot’s architectural theme will be designed to evoke the form and character of the old Redmond Train Depot, according to the site plan.

It’s unclear how soon the new store will be built. It would be Redmond’s first Home Depot. There is a store off U.S. Highway 97 in north Bend.

Located just north of a planned Wal-Mart Supercenter, the store would have almost immediate access to the currently planned U.S. Highway 97 reroute interchange off Quince Avenue.

Location and accessibility off a major thoroughfare are major issues in The Home Depot’s selection process for new sites, said Kathryn Gallagher, spokeswoman.

”We also look at a community – is there enough business for the community to be able to support the store? Our research showed that Redmond is ready,” she said.

The store’s location will also make it convenient for shoppers from surrounding communities, Gallagher said.

The Home Depot will purchase the 11-acre lot from Portland-based Hayden-Watson Co., which will retain the four remaining lots on the 29-acre parcel.

The company has been working with city officials for several months to discuss building, site design and access issues, said Nick Lelack, planning manager.

The site plan appeared to have addressed the city’s design recommendations, he said.

”This building will be a major part of the gateway to Redmond,” he said. ”Most of the area is undeveloped. By setting a high standard, we can then require the same from surrounding properties.”

Home Depot conducted a traffic impact analysis that determined a new signal would be needed at the intersection of Highway 97 and Quince Avenue to accommodate the new store. The city’s engineers still have to determine whether the store will have adequate access off the current Highway 97 route.

Planners also recommended that the back of the building, which will face Canal Boulevard, have an attractive facade.

The city and all affected agencies will have 30 days to rule the application complete or not. If it’s deemed complete, the Redmond Planning Commission will have an additional 60 days to hold a public hearing and decide upon the application, Lelack said.