Richmond Planning & Zoning approves several rezonings, industrial land purchase; residents raise traffic concerns

RICHMOND CITY — The Richmond Planning & Zoning Commission approved a slate of rezoning requests, a major subdivision plat and several financial releases at a packed Nov. 19 meeting that drew repeated public concern about traffic and neighborhood impacts.

The commission granted a rezoning for 1212 West Main Street from P-1 to B-3 after limited public comment and a brief staff review. It also approved a requested change to 1180 Berea Road, moving two B-3 lots into I-2 so Quallex Manufacturing and partner Square 1 Technologies can consolidate property and expand an existing building. Joe Montgomery, representing the petitioner, said Quallex currently employs about 170 people and the partnership’s plans could add "maybe 30 to 50" jobs as the companies relocate and expand operations in Richmond.

Rob Minerich, speaking for the city and the Richmond Industrial Development Corporation, described the city’s recent purchase of about 190 acres at 495 Duncannon Lane and asked that the property be rezoned from AG to I-2 to expand Industrial Park 3. Minerich said the transaction was funded with a $2,000,000 Product Development Initiative (PDI) grant and a $2,744,000 local match for a $4,744,000 purchase price: "They gave us $2,000,000, and we matched that…