Hampshire planning commission recommends rezoning to allow outdoor storage at Highway 20 site

The Hampshire Planning & Zoning Commission on a procedural vote recommended approval of application PZC26-O2, which seeks annexation and rezoning of two parcels at 44 W 452 US Highway 20 from E1 (estate) to M2 (general industrial), a special use permit for outdoor storage, and a variance to permit outdoor storage without a screening wall.

Staff presented the application and told the commission the site has been an established landscape wholesale and construction-supply business "since 2002," and that SCAP review determined the required findings of fact were met for all three entitlements. The staff member said SCAP recommended three conditions of approval: (1) the special use and variance would apply only to the current service/construction business and would not transfer to a different business; (2) the special use/variance would lapse if the business ceased operation for six consecutive months; and (3) outdoor storage would be limited to the area shown on the site map, including the future build-out area noted for parking and replacement buildings.

A commissioner asked why the village board previously rejected a more intensive M3 zoning in January; the staff member said M3 is the most intense industrial district and "runs with the land," which raised concern about potentially more intensive future uses next to residential properties. Commissioners and staff discussed the village-board action and procedural concerns raised by the village attorney during the earlier review; participants described some uncertainty about why the earlier M3 request failed to carry at the village board.

Chair read the motion to adopt staff findings and recommend approval of PZC26-O2 pursuant to staff-recommended conditions 1–3. A commissioner moved to approve; the commission conducted a roll-call vote naming Commissioners Tholman, Duhai, McBride, Reddy and Edgar, and the motion carried. The transcript records affirmative responses but contains ambiguous tally notation in one line; the commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the village board for final action.

The commission also confirmed the recommendation is limited by the staff conditions described, including the nontransferability of the special use and the six-month lapse provision, which are intended to limit intensity and preserve neighborhood expectations. The applicant and staff indicated additional business remains to be addressed at a future meeting.

The commission adjourned at about 07:15.