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Council approves light-industrial rezoning for BioCreek Global manufacturing project amid environmental questions
Summary
The zoning committee rezoned JR Lynch Street extension parcels to light-industrial for a proposed BioCreek Global manufacturing facility; applicant Christopher Jones said environmental studies and stormwater plans are in progress and promised workforce training and local investment.
Jackson City’s zoning committee voted to rezone parcels on the JR Lynch Street extension (petition 4320) from C-80 Mixed Use to C-81 Light Industrial (I-1) to allow construction of a light industrial manufacturing facility proposed by Emerging Capital/BioCreek Global.
Esther Ainsworth summarized staff reasons and the planning board recommendation to approve (recorded planning-board vote: 7–0, two abstentions). Christopher Jones, managing partner for Emerging Capital/BioCreek Global, said the facility would produce building materials such as an 8,000-psi concrete and polymer-cement construction blocks and described the project as a revitalization catalyst with training cohorts already under way.
Neighborhood representatives supported economic opportunity but raised environmental concerns. Ricky Jones, president of the West Central Jackson Improvement Association, said the community must ensure the project is executed and benefits local residents and schools. Council members asked whether environmental reviews had been completed and whether MDEQ (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality) had signed off; Jones said a local firm is performing Phase I/II studies, a stormwater plan has been submitted, and an air-quality permit is planned. He also said the design includes underground filtration and steps to avoid adverse runoff.
Ainsworth said site-plan review will include environmental and infrastructure checks and that outside agencies such as MDEQ would be involved as needed. The council moved and approved the rezoning; the recorded meeting vote was favorable (6–0). The development will need to complete required permitting before construction begins.
