SOUTH HOLLAND | The first meeting of the village's Planning and Development Commission since January brought out a sizeable contingent of village residents Wednesday.
Residents who live close to a pair of proposals received a letter informing them of discussions that would take place.
The first matter dealt with railroad property at the intersection of 168th Street and South Park Avenue, and the village's intention to rezone the area from light industrial to residential to provide a "friendly buffer" between residents and railroads.
The rezoning would prohibit Canadian National Railway, Union Pacific and CSX from bringing in light industrial business to the area, said Virgil Jordan, the village's assistant director of Planning and Development. The rezoning would allow future development only if it were residential, and there would be no growth in railroad activity from the petition, Jordan said.
The commission unanimously adopted the petition.
The commission also approved by a 7-1 vote a conditional use permit for Divine Touch Ministries in regards to its plans for a church at 515 E. 158th St.
Residents within 300 feet of the address received letters about the petition, and came out for more information.
Frank Knittle, who heads the village's Department of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement, told residents that issues such as parking, lighting and stormwater drainage would all be discussed in detail and decided upon at future meetings with church representatives.
In other action, the Planning and Development Commission:
-- Approved a corrected plat for the Torres subdivision. The original plat missed a 10-foot section of the property.
-- Tabled a petition by Southfield Corp. for a container height variance. A representative for Southfield was not at the meeting.
-- Approved a fence height variance for Taft Industrial Partners. Taft had requested a variance to build a 10-foot-high fence on the industrial lot at 500 W. Taft St. The fence will surround an outside storage area. Taft agreed to upkeep and engineering suggestions made by the commission.
