A public hearing on a conditional rezoning request by Interstate Capital that was scheduled for July 21 has been rescheduled for July 28 at 7 p.m. at the Charleston Township Hall.
Interstate Capital, the company requesting the conditional rezoning request, has submitted a revised plan the company hopes will address some earlier concerns.
Interstate Capital is proposing a development project at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and on L Avenue in Charleston Township.
The plan calls for developing 79.94 acres at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and consideration of re-zoning a portion of 77.69 acres on L Avenue, east of the property at the corner of 40th and L Avenue, which would be part of the development.
The Charleston Township Planning Commission recommended the township board deny a petition request by Interstate Capital to rezone a parcel of land for a proposed development project in Charleston Township at a public hearing May 26.
Interstate Capital withdrew its petition request and filed a conditional re-zoning request June 23 for the parcel of land that would need to be rezoned to move ahead with the project.
The conditional rezoning request offers to place specified conditions on the rezoning to limit development of the parcel in certain ways otherwise permissible in the I-1 Light Industrial Zoning District.
The property at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue is currently zoned light industrial.
In the previous conditional rezone application, the applicant requested the township to consider re-zoning the adjacent eastern 77.69 acres from agriculture to light industrial.
Director of Communications for Interstate Capital Darius Udrys said the company would like to develop the two structures primarily on the parcel already zoned light industrial near the corner of L and 40th Street. However because there are existing gas and electrical lines cutting through the property, the company says rezoning a portion of the second parcel to light industrial, is needed to make the structures economically viable.
Interstate Capital would like to purchase the two parcels but is requesting the zoning be changed before the purchase is finalized.
Udrys said the company has made a significant adjustment to its conditional rezoning request based on feedback the company received.
Udrys said the most significant change is the company has agreed to split-zoning the site in its revised conditional zoning application to the Charleston Township Planning Commission.
Under a split-zoning plan the company would leave the easterly 425 feet zoned for agriculture (AG-2), with the remainder rezoned to light industrial (I-1). The 425-foot buffer would remain as it is and the company said it would not touch the existing field or existing treeline within this buffer. Interstate Capital said this represents an increase from the previously proposed 260 feet of green space.
Udrys said to make the revised plan to divide a portion of the parcel work, the company has reduced and reconfigured the size of the buildings at a minium that would be economically viable.
Interstate Capital Director of Engineering Jason Raleigh said the new adjusted site plan size is for two buildings, 750,000 square feet each.
The previous site plan was for two, 500,000 square foot buildings with the ability to expand up to approximately 850,000 square feet.
“We have also specified with more technical detail how the lighting will work so that we would not have illumination beyond the boundaries of the lot and where the traffic would go. We’ve basically detailed the conditions in the conditional rezoning request so that there would be no doubt in anyone’s mind how this is supposed to go,” points out Udrys.
“Since this is the second time around, we already know what the concerns are, so it’s not something that we’re just hearing for the first time. I think we’ll address as many concerns as we’ve heard in our initial presentation,” continued the director of communications.
Udrys said the two clean, modern buildings that would be leased out to companies, will be an approximately $80 million investment.
The conditional rezone stays with the property if Interstate Capital ever sold the property.
When the project is completed, Interstate Capital anticipates it will bring anywhere from 100 to 200 jobs.
The company maintains that the development will also bring new tax revenue to support essential services and infrastructure.
Interstate Capital also will be excluding the following uses:
• Any use or accessory uses associated with the keeping of animals
• Builder supply sales and lumber yard
• Contractor’s equipment yard
• Institutional or public use
• Machine shop
• Machinery and heavy equipment sales/ service
• Public utility service facilities
The company adds no Special Exception Uses are being proposed and the site will not be a data center.
The May 26 public hearing drew a room full of township residents, including most who were against the proposed development.
All public comments, with the exception of one at the May 26 public hearing, were against the proposed development.
Public comments against the proposed development focused on the view for local residents, excessive traffic, noise, bright lights at night, a potential reduction in property value and a desire to maintain a natural quiet atmosphere.
Linda Behnke, who lives in the Lakeview Meadows subdivision, was concerned with ground water risks.
Behnke said the proposed site is less than a mile from established residential subdivisions in the Long Lake, Portage Lake, and Blue Lake area. She said nearly all residences in the affected area, including the Long Lake and Blue Lake neighborhoods, have certified private wells drawing from the same shared aquifer.
The Planning Commission was presented a supporting document from the Board of the Lakeview Meadows Association opposing the rezoning request and a resident petition containing the names of 58 local residents opposing the development at the May 26 public hearing.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
