Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Industrial Zoning Business Permit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council advances rezoning for Express Asphalt at 131 William Street after owner details cleanup and operation plans
Summary
The committee approved legislation to rezone six parcels at 131 William Street from residential to light industrial for Express Asphalt Solutions. Owner Rodney Hilton described building cleanup, EPA clearance, and plans to use Sumner Street for truck access; parking and neighborhood impacts were discussed.
The Community Development Committee voted to advance an ordinance to rezone six parcels at 131 William Street from residential household to light industrial (L‑1) to allow Express Asphalt Solutions to use the site as a field operations base and office.
Owner Rodney Hilton told the committee he bought the property in August and “completely, totally cleaned up the whole complete outside” and renovated the interior, stating the site will store equipment and house office staff. Hilton said he has EPA paperwork showing the property is clear of contamination.
Hilton described operations as field-based: “We are a field based, company. We will be storing all of our equipment inside the fenced in area. Trucks, trailers, stuff like that.” He told council trucks would use Sumner Street rather than the rail‑station side of William Street.
Council members questioned renovation work, brownfield remediation and traffic. Councilman Lipien asked whether the site had been remediated; Hilton replied he has “all the paperwork for all the EPA that's been done on it. It came back clean slate.” Council members also asked about hours and truck routing; Hilton said he had engaged with nearby residents and described generally positive neighborhood feedback. Staff noted the six parcels at issue had reverted to residential after they were parceled earlier; Hilton confirmed surrounding partials are zoned business or heavy industrial.
The Planning Commission approved the rezoning on April 1, 2025, with no conditions, and the committee moved to draft legislation authorizing the change. A motion to advance the ordinance was moved by Mr. Oswald and seconded by Mrs. Mitchell; committee votes were recorded as "Aye" with the chair noting the motion carries.
Clarifying details recorded at the meeting: the owner said the site is approximately 3,500 square feet for other projects discussed at the meeting (parking figures applied to a different item), and he intends to limit on-site staff; local access will be via Sumner Street. The owner also said 6 of the parcels reverted to residential and the remainder of the block contains business or industrial parcels.
The rezoning will return to full council after legislation is drafted.
