Trenton council adopts IT zoning, tightens industrial noise rules and OKs major Trenton Square and municipal‑complex contracts

Trenton City Council on Oct. 28 adopted multiple ordinance changes and approved two construction contracts that move forward the Trenton Square development and the city’s municipal complex.

What the council passed: by roll‑call votes recorded in the meeting transcript, council approved the addition of an Industrial Technology (IT) zoning district to the codified ordinances and enacted clarifications to the noise ordinance as it applies to industrial districts. The noise change clarifies that decibel measurements for enforcement are based on regular operating conditions and are not measured during routine generator testing, maintenance or emergency operation; the rules remain enforceable for normal operations.

Why it matters: the IT district is tailored for large parcels and “high‑tech” campus formats; staff presented minimum lot sizes (10 acres), larger front‑yard and side setbacks and enhanced buffering requirements for properties adjacent to residential zones. The intent is to provide a zoning framework to attract technology‑oriented industrial uses while limiting heavier industrial activities (for example, asphalt or chemical processing) from locating under the IT rules.

Contracts authorized

• Trenton Square off‑site improvements: Council authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Barrett Paving Materials Inc. for off‑site infrastructure work related to the Trenton Square project, in an amount not to exceed $1,168,681. The contract was awarded after a competitive process (seven bidders) and will fund storm‑water, traffic and other off‑site improvements the city described as necessary to support the development.

• Municipal complex guaranteed maximum price (GMP): Council also approved a change order and a revised guaranteed maximum price with Miller Valentine Construction for the design‑build municipal complex. The revised GMP covers hard construction costs, contingencies, owner‑furnished items and infrastructure; the transcript shows the total program cost (including on‑ and off‑site work and contingencies) remains within previously discussed budget ranges and will be funded primarily through development‑linked TIF/CRA funds and issued bonds, not the city general fund.

Process and oversight

City staff repeatedly emphasized that ordinance adoption of the IT district does not rezone any parcel automatically. Any specific rezoning would require a separate planning‑commission review, public hearing and council vote. Likewise, the noise ordinance clarifications create measurement and enforcement standards the city expects to use during plan review and operations.

Council also discussed enforcement options for incentive agreements and cited a recent county example where a developer did not meet promised headcounts; staff said city‑controlled CRA agreements generally allow stronger local enforcement than county enterprise‑zone instruments and that the city is pursuing remediation in the cited county matter.

Next steps: work under the Barrett Paving contract is planned to proceed under the city’s public‑works schedule; Miller Valentine’s GMP will be implemented under project management protocols identified in the contract and will be reported to council. Any future property rezoning to the new IT district will require separate notice and public hearings.