Pontiac planning commissioners unanimously recommend rezoning 451 East Wilson to preserve Denet Construction

Pontiac planning commissioners voted unanimously to recommend that City Council rezone the parcel at 451 East Wilson from R‑1 (single‑family dwelling district) to M‑2 (heavy manufacturing), concluding the map currently shows an erroneous residential designation for a site historically used for industrial purposes.

Staff planning manager Amy Babin told the commission the parcel has a continuous history of industrial use dating back to at least 1952 and that the Master Plan designates the site as Research and Development Campus. “Our recommendation is that the zoning map amendment be approved without conditions and forwarded to city council for its consideration,” Babin said. The change, she told commissioners, would correct what staff described as a clerical error and allow the property’s existing use to be legally conforming under the zoning ordinance.

Tom Denik, the property owner and operator of Denet Construction, said the site supports roughly 40 employees and that the company has invested in building repairs and improvements. “We are hiring,” Denik told the commission, noting about 10 percent of the workforce are Pontiac residents and that the business offers benefits and plans to continue investing in the property if the zoning is corrected.

Neighbors raised a separate concern about dust from materials on site; Melvin Hayden said heavy equipment and material storage have created persistent dust issues for adjacent residents. Denik said his company has erected a concrete wall to reduce offsite impacts and has submitted permit applications for paving and stormwater connections that he said have been delayed by the permitting process.

Commissioner Chris Jackson moved to recommend approval of ZMA25‑006, citing staff findings; Jason Bauer seconded. The roll call recorded unanimous approval by the commissioners present, and the commission forwarded the recommendation to the city council for final action. Chair Sue Sinclair thanked the owner for his investment and apologized for the inconvenience caused by the mapping error.

The commission recorded no conditions on the recommendation; any site‑specific concerns (permits, dust mitigation, stormwater connections) remain separate permitting issues to be addressed by staff and the property owner as part of building and public‑works reviews. The rezoning recommendation will appear on an upcoming City Council agenda for final consideration.