Planning commission recommends approval of Griffith storage site plan and special use, forwards recommendation to council

The Oglesby Planning Commission on an unspecified date voted to recommend approval of the Griffith storage site plan and special‑use request, forwarding the item to the city council after a motion passed by roll call with six yes votes and one abstention.

The recommendation came after staff and commissioners clarified details of the proposal, including unit counts in an existing building, changes to grading and drainage, landscaping choices and site cleanup. Commissioner Jim Kleiner moved to approve the special use and site plan; Dave Peters seconded. The commission’s roll call produced a majority in favor and one abstention, and the chair said the recommendation will be delivered to the council.

Why it matters: The decision advances a private storage project that neighbors have raised concerns about—principally leaf accumulation from certain trees and stormwater flow—while preserving existing storage units on site and requiring a drainage sequence intended to reduce ponding and runoff impacts.

Commission discussion focused first on unit counts and parking. Staff clarified that an existing south building has 32 roll‑up doors but contains 24 actual units, a mix of single units and pass‑through units, which changes how parking requirements and unit totals are applied. Staff added that six existing box storage units at one location will remain in place at their current grades; an adjacent built‑up parking area will be cut down to grade because no new units are being added there.

On stormwater, staff explained a revised grading approach and added spot elevations and a flow line to move water from a wet low spot eastward into the paved ditch and storm pond. "The drainage is installed before they start putting in new buildings," Jim Kleiner said of the construction‑sequence note added to Sheet 2, a requirement staff told the commission should be emphasized on permits. The commission asked that the permit review explicitly enforce that sequence.

Landscaping drew several comments from commissioners and neighbors. The chair raised concerns about "those 21 maple trees down the road" and about leaves accumulating on Porter Street; staff said the street landscaping is a mix of locust and maple and that arborvitae are not permitted adjacent to the public right‑of‑way under the city’s land development code. Staff said any species outside the approved list would require an express waiver or code relief.

Commissioners also confirmed that previously abandoned vehicles and a debris pile reported at the prior meeting have been removed, addressing a neighborhood complaint. Members noted some errors and inconsistencies on the cover sheet (spelling and graphics) and asked staff and the applicant to correct the cover sheet and any identified typos before final submittal.

Staff estimated construction would likely begin in November, pending permits. The commission’s recommendation will be placed on the council agenda; after council action the applicant must submit construction plans that follow the required sequence and any conditions the council adopts.

The commission also tentatively scheduled additional comprehensive‑plan work sessions for 09/24 and 10/22, pending staff availability. The meeting adjourned after the recommendation vote.

Quote selection: "I'll make a motion that we approve this the special use," Jim Kleiner said before moving the recommendation; staff emphasized the requirement that drainage be installed before constructing new buildings.