Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commissioners, Wednesday evening, were not enthused with the idea of using the former Power Conversion Products/Eltek Industries manufacturing facility at 115 Erick Street for District 47 operations.
The District desires to move the support services of the District into one location. This would include offices, warehouse, print shop, storage facilities and school bus maintenance and dispatch. These operations are currently in four locations.
The consolidation would require the expansion of parking needs towards the east and/or the possible relocation of a detention area located at the northwest corner of the property.
Consolidation would also provide a favorable financial savings for the district while increasing efficiencies within the support functions.
The facility would house 50 school buses and maintenance vehicles, as well as anticipated parking needs of bus transportation, maintenance and central office staff, so the present parking/storage area would need expansion toward the east with possible relocation of the detention area located at the northwest corner of the property.
Neighbors from the residential area nearby on the east expressed their concerns primarily having to do with the noise of the buses going in and out of the facility, also having to be run during extreme cold temperatures. Concerns were also expressed regarding the possible contamination of atmosphere from diesel fuel fumes with the buses coming and going from this location and being serviced at this location.
Likewise the possible needed illumination of the bus storage area was another concern expressed by neighbors. They also expressed some of the problems they experienced in the past with the property. One was the fact that when the facility was built, trees were to be installed to block the area from the residential area. That was not done.
Concerns were expressed regarding the buses coming in at various hours day and night and the fumes that would be emitted by the buses. It was also felt that property values would suffer with such a location near the residential area.
There were also concerns expressed that the use of the two way-radio communication system for the buses would interfere with residential television and other electronic devices.
It was also noted by Commission member Dave Goss that if the busses were being serviced in the building it would require a zoning change.
A concern expressed by many of the commission members was the close proximity of this facility to a city water recharge area and the possible contamination of that area.
There was also concern from Commission members that Erick Street could handle the traffic required for buses coming and going plus the possible delays the buses would be experiencing by the trains.
Other concerns expressed by the Commission concerned the expense needed to provide what is needed to make the site usable and to alleviate concerns of the neighbors.
The Commission was not willing to provide the go ahead for the intended use of the property. The City Council will get the report at the November 2 Council meeting.
1 comment:
Since this was a conceptual review, the school district was looking for concerns and obstacles to the intended use of the facility. Not, the "go ahead" to proceed.
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