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Lee County planning commission waives lease for interstate‑adjacent parcel; owner cites truck‑stop, hotel and solar options
Summary
The Lee County Regional Planning Commission voted July 6 to waive a county lease for a parcel at the U.S. 30/I‑39 interchange following testimony from the property owner and staff. The waiver clears a procedural hurdle for commercial options—truck stop, hotel, restaurant—or a possible solar component but does not approve rezoning or permits.
The Lee County Regional Planning Commission voted July 6 to waive a county lease for a parcel at the U.S. 30 and Interstate 39 interchange after hearing from the property owner and county planning staff.
Staff member (S2) told commissioners the parcel sits in a detailed planning area of the Lee County comprehensive plan and that "the LISA score 237, which exceeds our threshold of 225," supported consideration of an appeal to the county lease. Dr. Bangash, the property owner and applicant, described the site as well‑situated for highway‑serving commercial uses and said he had preliminary discussions with potential operators.
The commission heard that possible uses include a truck stop, a small hotel, a gas station, a car wash and a restaurant — and that a solar array had also expressed interest for part of the parcel. "I bought it because this looks like a very strategic area," Dr. Bangash said in testimony, citing heavy truck and highway traffic along I‑39 as a reason for commercial interest.
Commissioners discussed constraints that will affect any future development: portions of the parcel are mapped as an environmental corridor and will require setbacks; staff noted there is no floodplain on the property but that roughly 3% of the site shows hydric soil in the assessment. Staff also described alternatives for the owner other than rezoning, including a planned unit development (PUD) or pursuing replatting and site design, and stressed that feasibility depends on engineering, legal review and utility/infrastructure availability.
A commissioner cited local public‑safety and operational benefits of added services on the highway. "Our sheriff's department would really appreciate it if there was one over there," the commissioner said, linking a 24‑hour fill‑up and rest option to fewer roadside assistance calls.
After discussion, the commission moved to waive the county lease to allow the applicant to pursue development options. The motion was made and seconded and passed by voice vote; the transcript records affirmative responses and no recorded opposing votes. The waiver clears a procedural barrier but does not approve rezoning, development permits, or site plans — those would require separate reviews and approvals.
Staff flagged that the comprehensive plan cited guidance for directing new commercial or industrial development into detailed planning areas and that portions of the parcel were historically considered for similar use about 15 years ago but had been constrained by lack of municipal services. Staff also noted prior negotiations in the region concerning an enterprise zone and nearby solar projects, and said interested parties such as Blackhawk Hills or the Lee County Industrial Development Association could be involved in future economic development steps.
The commission invited the applicant to stay for the remainder of the meeting; the action was recorded and staff said the waiver would be noted in the minutes. Next steps for the applicant will include engineering, potential rezoning or PUD applications and any required permitting or utility coordination.
