Planning committee approves comp‑plan change and rezoning for Geneva 12400 Wilmot LLC; neighbors raise manufacturing and safety questions

The Kenosha County planning committee voted to amend the comprehensive plan and rezone a property owned by Geneva 12400 Wilmot LLC in the Town of Randall to allow limited manufacturing and warehousing uses.

The applicant said the change would allow Elastic Plastics (referred to in the record as Elastic/Allied Plastics) to consolidate warehousing, distribution and light thermal‑forming manufacturing at the facility. Tim Veil, speaking for the applicant, said his firm has leased space in the building since 2021 and sought room for three thermal‑forming machines and CNC trimming equipment. “We don't melt plastic,” Veil told the committee. “We are custom thermal formers…we heat plastic up till it's pliable, and then we form it over mold using vacuum or air pressure.” He also said the company holds an ISO 14001 environmental management certification.

County staff described the request as a comprehensive plan amendment from commercial to industrial and a rezone from B‑5 (warehouse/distribution) to M‑1 (limited manufacturing) for tax parcels in the Town of Randall. Staff told the committee the town held a companion meeting on April 14, 2025, and that the town’s motion to approve passed unanimously.

The matter surfaced after a fire in the building prompted fire‑service inspections that revealed the presence of manufacturing equipment while zoning records still reflected commercial/warehouse use. Ryan Logterman, representing the building owner Geneva 12400, told the committee: “What was discovered at the time of the fire [was] the zoning issue. The fire systems and the safety is all fine and inspected.” Logterman said the facility's sprinkler system had been upgraded and inspected.

A nearby property owner spoke against the petition, saying he intends to move onto a 60‑acre property across the street and expressing concern about noise, traffic and potential air emissions. “The limited manufacturing concerned me a little bit,” said Jim Burns, a neighbor, asking whether truck traffic would operate 24 hours and whether there could be airborne pollutants. Veil and others told the committee the process uses non‑melting thermal forming and, in their view, does not generate air pollution hazards; they also noted that heavier manufacturing would trigger state permitting and air‑quality review.

Committee members asked whether first responders had been informed about the manufacturing activities. Veil said he was on site during the fire and walked the building with the fire department. Staff acknowledged the broader issue of coordinating fire, building and zoning inspections and said the county has been working for several years to better integrate those inspection records with municipal partners.

The committee approved the comprehensive plan amendment and rezone. Staff noted that the approvals will go to the county board next week; if approved there, the county executive’s signature will finalize the changes. The applicant said it expects to occupy the entire facility by May 1, 2026, and said no state permits were required for the described thermal‑forming processes, though heavier manufacturing would trigger additional state review.