By Ben Rodgers
Editor
HOBART – About a dozen concerned residents got to witness some political sausage being made at the Tuesday, May 7, Hobart village board meeting.
On the fly, the board revised a conditional use permit with a developer in regards to a proposed storage unit complex located off the 3500 block of West Mason Street.
The residents’ concerns stem from a 32-unit, formerly 37-unit, storage complex where people would be able to purchase individual units and have them built to custom specifications.
The units would be located near Haven Place, and since March, residents have objected to the C. Roffers Properties’ development.
Original concerns were related to the rezoning, which was eventually changed from agricultural to limited industrial after two public hearings for the development.
On May 7, the board heard from the same group of concerned residents during a public hearing for the conditional use permit to allow the storage units.
Residents were concerned with an entry/exit way that, in addition to the one to be located off West Mason Street, would be located on Haven Place.
Randy Bani, police chief, and Jerry Lancelle, fire chief, said the development would require two ways in and out for emergency response vehicles.
Another concern was a cul-de-sac in the development, and some residents wanted to see it in the center, not at the end of the submitted road plans.
But Todd Gerbers, zoning director, told the concerned residents that any cul-de-sac would need to be located at the end of a road to allow room for emergency vehicles.
Residents were also concerned with where a bathroom for the development would be located, trash disposal, hours of operation, vehicles allowed, what would trigger the second construction phase of the development, ingress and egress off West Mason Street and work allowed to be done outside of the units.
“How thick do you want to see this?” Rich Heidel, board president, said of the conditional use permit. “What you see is what we got right now, and you don’t see anything right now about sandblasting, but that’s the function of the public hearing.”
In response to the residents’ concerns, the board revised the conditional use permit and asked developer Chad Roffers if he agreed to the proposed changes.
Some of the agreed upon changes include making the units accessible 24 hours day on the pretense the developer returns in one year to review the project.
No structure, including any mechanical equipment, may exceed 25 feet in height from grade.
Driveway access from Haven Place must have a posted sign saying no trucks may enter or exit.
Prohibited vehicles include: Anything 10,000 pounds or heavier, vehicles for auto salvage or wreckers, trailers that require a license to be operated, semi trailers, semi tractors and vehicles requiring an apportioned license.
“You can have the best written laws and ordinances in the world, but it’s still going to be a complaint-driven system here,” Heidel said.
In other news, the village board scheduled a public hearing for a conditional use permit to allow a 4-foot fence, 1 foot taller than allowed, for an in-home day care on Sunbeam Circle. The public hearing was scheduled for June 4.