Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Conditional Use Outdoor Storage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends conditional use permit for outdoor storage at former Southwire/Coleman Cable site; neighbors voice safety and traffic concerns
Summary
The commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional use permit to allow outdoor storage of roofing materials at 1445 Eleventh Street with standard conditions, including a 90-day review; neighbors raised concerns about truck traffic, hours and safety for children.
The Waukegan Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday recommended approval of a conditional use permit allowing outdoor storage of roofing materials at 1445 Eleventh Street, a vacant industrial property formerly occupied by Southwire and Coleman Cable.
The commission voted to adopt the findings of fact and recommend approval of zoning calendar item 2781; roll call was unanimous with commissioners also noting an existing standard condition that allows a post-approval review of compliance.
Planner Tyler Williams told the commission the applicant, identified in the application as Randall Voselic and CQX LLC, seeks outdoor storage within the industrial district; staff said the conditional use is limited to the outdoor storage component and the business type is otherwise permitted by-right. Williams said the proposal includes demolition of roughly 93,000 square feet of building area where the outdoor storage would be sited, an eight-foot screening fence, paved dustproof surfacing, and landscape improvements.
Developer Randy Veslick of SV Development, who said he represents the project, described the tenant as a publicly traded roofing distributor that plans to use the outdoor area for residential and commercial roofing materials. Veslick described upgrades including new curb, sidewalk, landscaping and security cameras, and said the tenant will “once stabilized, about $15,000,000 in sales out of this location.” He also said the operation would use three trucks and that deliveries would occur during daytime business hours.
Several residents testified in opposition or with concerns. Rosie Jones, who lives at 1429 Twelfth Street, said she and her family have owned the property since 1973 and objected to outdoor storage because of traffic, potential truck routes and safety for children who walk or wait for buses on nearby streets. Her daughter, Bridget Jones, said past tenants (Southwire, Coleman Cable and others) had heavy truck activity and said she was concerned trucks might operate on weekends.
Commissioners asked about hours of operation and truck routing; the applicant said trucks would enter via Elizabeth and Eleventh Street and that Twelfth Street is posted as a no-truck route. Staff noted several conditions in the draft approval, including: (1) all work to be performed inside the building; (2) outdoor storage surfaces must be dustproof, hard-surfaced; (3) stored materials must not be taller than the approved screening fence; (4) lighting must meet the city's standards (not to exceed 3,000 Kelvin); and (5) an explicit condition (Condition 14) allowing Planning and Zoning to review compliance after approval and to revoke the permit for noncompliance. Commissioner Anderson asked for confirmation the commission could review the operation after 90 days; staff confirmed the review condition in the report.
The commission made and seconded the motion and approved the conditional use permit by unanimous roll call. The applicant and staff were reminded that the approval is conditional and that residents and the alderman can report noncompliance to the Planning Department for enforcement or review.
