JACKSON RESIDENTS OBJECT TO PERMIT

JACKSON -- Property owners within 185 feet of 417 N. High St. have until Dec. 19 to sign a petition at the Department of Public Works objecting to a special-use permit for that property.

Businessman Kenneth Waldron addressed the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night about his plan to build two warehouses on the property.

He would use them to store cleaning products made in Springfield, to receive and ship the products from the buildings.

The property is zoned for commercial use, but Waldron said he wanted to make sure his enterprise would be acceptable under that designation.

"I can't tell the board when the structures will be built," he said. "It could be never or it could be in a very short period of time. But I wanted to tell everyone up front what we had in mind."

Alderman David Hitt later asked why Waldron said the buildings may never be built, and the developer admitted the only way they wouldn't be is if he was unable to obtain the special-use permit.

Waldron covered six qualifications for the permit as listed in Jackson's zoning ordinance. The ordinance requires aldermen to consider if the permit will:

-- Substantially increase traffic hazards or congestion.

-- Adversely affect the character of the neighborhood.

-- Substantially increase fire hazards.

-- Adversely affect the general welfare of the community.

-- Overtax public utilities.

-- Be in conflict with the city's comprehensive plan.

Waldron said his construction on North High Street wouldn't do any of those things.

Property owners near the site differed with his opinion.

Tom Anderson presented a petition with 64 signatures of residents who object to the building. He was followed by Ed Fiehler, who said he represented several of the petition's signers.

"Of the people I have spoken with in the past couple of days, not one is in favor of this project," Fiehler said. "They want to see it come to a complete halt."

He said the area was originally zoned for commercial use to accommodate two funeral homes, much different enterprises than Waldron's. After asking the board to defeat the proposal, Fiehler urged them to consider rezoning the property for residential use.

During another public hearing Monday, Waldron requested a similar permit for his property at 529 W. Main St., which is currently the Spirit Shop. He wants to change the retail establishment to a wholesale warehouse for cleaning supplies.

"There won't be anything changed about the building," Waldron said. "There may even be people who believe the neighborhood would be improved without a liquor store."

None of the 35 who attended the meeting objected to that permit.

The board will decide the issues at its Dec. 19 meeting. In the meantime, residents who live within 185 feet of the property at 417 N. High have until that date to sign a petition in the Department of Public Works office.

If 30 percent of the landowners sign, it will take a two-thirds majority of the board to issue the special-use permit.