Panel recommends special use permit to allow warehousing in town center, approves conditions on trucks and outdoor storage

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 27 recommended approval of a special use permit (ordinance 44‑25) to allow warehousing in the town center’s Commercial General district, where vacancies left by Burlington and Big Lots are being repurposed.

Staff explained the mall interior had been decommissioned years ago and that the property owner, Jim Michaelson, has invested in retrofits — adding firewalls, sprinklers and other upgrades — and has tenants lined up. Staff recommended approval with conditions that trucks not use the roads in front of the mall (directing them to Velocity Drive to reach loading docks), that there be no outdoor storage, and that there be no outside amplified systems.

Residents raised nighttime noise and lighting concerns from loading activity and truck maneuvers. One nearby resident described repeated overnight noise and lights that disrupt sleep and asked the commission to address hours and enforcement; staff and the applicant acknowledged the concern and said operators could be made aware of existing local noise regulations (the village’s noise ordinance restricts certain noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.) and that staff would consider an explicit condition to increase awareness and mitigation. The village fire inspector said the retrofits met code for the warehouse uses described and that no hazardous materials will be stored in the proposed tenants’ spaces.

Commissioners discussed mitigation options including signage, noise‑awareness conditions and coordination with tenants; staff agreed to draft a noise‑related condition. The commission adopted the findings of fact and forwarded a positive recommendation to the Planning & Economic Development Committee on Nov. 3.