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Grand Island residents urge board to vote on M‑1 zoning change that would limit warehouse size
Summary
At a June 2 public hearing, residents urged the Town Board of Grand Island to adopt local law changes to remove distribution centers as permitted uses in M‑1/M‑2 zones and cap business‑campus square footage at 350,000; the board left the hearing open and referred the matter for further review.
Residents urged the Town Board of Grand Island on June 2 to vote on an amendment to the town zoning code that would restrict warehouse and distribution‑center uses in M‑1 (industrial) districts and cap the total square footage of a business campus at 350,000 square feet.
The proposal — introduced earlier as local law number 6 of 2023 and revisited at the hearing — would allow warehouses under a special‑permit process and would not permit distribution centers in M‑1/M‑2 zoning districts, according to public comments. Residents said the suggested 350,000‑square‑foot cap was calculated from the island’s largest existing commercial campus (about 308,000 square feet) plus a 10% buffer.
Why it matters: dozens of residents said the issue has mobilized more public opposition than nearly any other town topic in recent years and that the change would affect how large industrial developments could proceed on Grand Island. Speakers framed the matter as both environmental (noise, light and air impacts) and procedural, criticizing delays in the town’s rezoning process and the lapse of a previous moratorium intended to allow a rezoning committee to reconcile zoning with the town master plan.
During public comment, Kathy Bridal told the board that ‘‘over 2,000 Grand Island residents have raised their voices’’ since a 2021 proposal to build a 4.2‑million‑square‑foot distribution facility was first discussed. Catherine Hastings and other residents described repeated campaign promises and committee delays, and urged the board to bring the proposed law to a vote rather than defer it again. Jim Daigler supported the amendment overall but warned that adopting the law would not necessarily stop some applicants from pursuing approvals through other procedures.
Action taken: The board voted to refer the item to long‑range planning and left the public hearing open so the rezoning committee and long‑range planning can consider the draft language further. A roll call recorded all members present voting aye on the referral.
Background and next steps: Speakers said the town previously established a rezoning committee months after a moratorium was proposed, but the moratorium later lapsed without the committee returning a recommendation on the M‑1/M‑2 language. Residents asked that the board schedule a formal vote soon and not allow county planning or procedural delays to prevent local action.
Board members said they would await long‑range planning’s review and any county comments before scheduling a final vote. The public hearing remains open; the board’s referral instructs staff and planning boards to review the draft language and return recommendations at a future meeting.
Ending: Town officials did not set a date for a vote. Residents who addressed the board said they will continue to submit written comments while the hearing is open.
