Neighbors push for conditional use, measurable limits and stronger protections for Ballantray

A large public comment period followed the presentations, with residents from Ballantray, Hoocher Road and nearby neighborhoods raising environmental, traffic, health, and process concerns about the draft ID‑6 code.

Jerry Halton (speaker 15) opened with a critique of the overall concept, saying the plan feels like “a design for failure” and urging the city to reconsider site selection. Several residents asked that advanced manufacturing and research and development be moved from permitted to conditional uses so each application would undergo a more rigorous public review. "I am asking that you change advanced manufacturing and research and development from permitted use to conditional use," said Angela Griffin (speaker 18).

Speakers repeatedly requested clearer, enforceable numeric standards (for example, noise thresholds, delivery frequency, trip caps or vehicle counts), asked for a definitional distinction for “clean manufacturing,” and pressed the city to explain how potential toxic byproducts and waste streams would be evaluated and enforced. Tim Myers (speaker 11) warned, “We haven't even touched on any of that...what happens to the waste stream?” Several commenters also raised visibility and property‑value concerns about 45‑foot buildings seen from second‑floor windows and asked for stronger screening and lower heights near homes.

Commissioners acknowledged the depth of public concern and asked staff to consider changes to definitions and additional measurable standards; staff agreed to return with clarifications.