The Plan Commission on Sept. 9 approved amended site and architectural plans for a proposed multi‑tenant speculative industrial building at 10000 South Ridgeview Drive, allowing a modified footprint and site layout requested to accommodate prospective tenants. The approval carried conditions that plans show locations for all mechanicals and utilities, that mechanical equipment be screened, that stormwater requirements be coordinated with the engineering department and that the approval expire in 12 months if a building permit is not issued.

The project was originally reviewed in January 2024 and amended in February and July 2025 after wetlands permitting and tenant requests prompted revisions. Staff told the commission the current amendment adds one dock door (for a south elevation total of 39 dock doors), widens an access drive for truck access, relocates roughly 28 parking stalls from the northeast portion of the site to the west, and adjusts lighting locations. The applicant reported a total of 174 vehicle parking spaces on the site after the changes.

Why it matters: the development is a large industrial building (roughly 400,000 square feet) sited near residential lots to the south; staff and the applicant emphasized additional landscaping and a berm to buffer adjacent homes and meet landscaping standards.

Public and commission discussion addressed neighborhood impacts and site safety. Kaylee Kujak, a resident at 10108 South Judith Place who lives adjacent to the property, said relocating parking closer to the west side of the site would increase car headlights and headlights from vehicles approaching the stalls and described personal concerns about the change and its emotional impact. Kujak said she had previously been told the area would remain a grassed strip she could use for walking.

Brian Randall, an attorney representing the applicant, said the applicants were working with staff and tenants and noted the project’s landscaping and buffering would not be reduced; he and the applicant, John Schlitter of Frontline Commercial Real Estate, said a berm already installed is about 10 to 12 feet tall at one corner and will be planted with trees to shield car and truck lights from neighboring properties. Schlitter told the commission he expected little use of the relocated employee stalls and reiterated that grading and berm work was underway.

Commissioners asked about pedestrian access from the relocated parking to building exit doors; the applicant agreed to add a pedestrian connection if parking is used on a regular basis and staff suggested a striped pedestrian crossing with signage as a lower‑cost option that can be added without a concrete path. Commissioners also confirmed that the current plan took less than 10,000 square feet of wetland, which staff said did not require wetland replacement under state review, and that lighting would meet code standards (3,000 Kelvin, full cutoff, and under 0.5 foot‑candles at the property line).

Formal action: the clerk moved to approve the amended site and architectural plan for the proposed multi‑tenant speculative industrial building at 10000 South Ridgeview Drive with five conditions (code compliance; locations and screening for mechanicals, transformers and utility boxes; stormwater coordination with engineering; electronic plan submission prior to permits; and 12‑month expiration if no building permit issued). The motion passed on roll call.

Next steps: the applicant must submit revised plans showing mechanical and utility locations and obtain required stormwater reviews and any additional permits before permit issuance.