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Planning commission recommends approval for Forest Packaging conversion facility at 1450 Bowes Road
Summary
The Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7–0 to recommend that city council approve a conditional-use permit allowing Forest Packaging to convert an existing 113,000 sq. ft. building at 1450 Bowes Road into a corrugated box assembly facility, with staff-recommended conditions.
The Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on Aug. 3, 2026, to recommend that city council approve petition 16-26, allowing Forest Packaging to operate a corrugated and solid fiber box conversion facility at 1450 Bowes Road.
Planning staff presented the application and recommended approval, saying the 9-acre site meets zoning standards and that proposed operations would not require exterior changes. “We recommend approval subject to the conditions in the packet,” staff said. The building on the site totals about 113,000 square feet and has 186 parking spaces; staff told commissioners the proposal would meet the zoning ordinance’s parking requirement.
Carissa Wendt of Kobu Architecture said the business will receive corrugated sheets and perform cutting, folding, gluing and printing on-site rather than manufacturing corrugated stock. “So, I think it's actually a perfect use of this site,” Wendt said, introducing the applicant. John Kula, who said he represents a family-owned Forest Packaging business, described the company’s plan to relocate from Elk Grove and to be a local employer and partner. “We're a family owned business. We've been around 60 years in November, actually. We've been in Elk Grove for 31 years and wanna make Elgin our home,” Kula said.
Kula and staff gave operational details during questioning: the facility would operate two shifts (roughly 5 a.m.–1 p.m. and 5 p.m.–1 a.m.), and the company expects about 44–60 employees at the Elgin site. The applicant estimated four to seven inbound truckloads a day and approximately the same number outbound and said printing would be done on flexographic presses using water-soluble inks and recycled corrugated material.
A commissioner moved to recommend approval “subject to the conditions outlined within our packet and to adopt as the findings of the commission.” Staff called the roll and the motion passed 7 to 0. The chair thanked the applicant and asked them to continue coordinating with city staff as the project moves to council.
