Commission endorses Park 88 Unit 5 manufacturing building; tenant remains under NDA

The DeKalb City Planning and Zoning Commission on June 5 voted to recommend City Council approval of a preliminary/final development plan and final plat for Park 88 Unit 5, clearing the way for a roughly 186,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on about 22 acres in the Park 88 development.

Steve Miller of Venture One, the applicant representative, said the project would place a large manufacturing building on one of two lots in the park. "We're proposing... about 186,000 square foot manufacturing facility," Miller said, but he said the tenant is under a nondisclosure agreement and declined to identify the company publicly.

City staff reviewed the plat and plan, noting the site was planned for such industrial use, utilities and offsite detention were available, and the submittal included 140 parking spaces. Staff recommended approval subject to addressing standard staff comments, submitting final engineering and landscape and lighting plans, and recording the final plat prior to permits.

Commissioners asked whether the shown future expansion to the east was committed; staff said expansion is a high probability and the site was designed to be expandable. The applicant estimated the initial operation would employ roughly 150–300 people across office and manufacturing functions, likely operating on two shifts.

A motion to recommend approval, moved by Scott and seconded by Brian, passed by roll call with the commissioners present voting in favor. Before any building permits are issued, staff said the applicant must resolve detailed engineering and lighting plans and address all staff comments.

The recommendation goes to the DeKalb City Council; staff noted the applicant expected to begin grading soon with a target to be operational in mid-2027 if engineering and permit steps proceed on schedule.