Sturtevant trustees Tuesday are expected to approve changes to the village’s land use plan that will open additional acres for potential commercial development.
In short, resident Joe Mrazek owns a number of parcels at the southeast corner of Highways H and 11 that are marked as commercial and residential. He asked board members to rezone the land as industrial to increase the potential for sale and future development.
During a public hearing held Jan. 21, several residents who live along Highway H expressed their opposition to the change. Their concern is based primarily on what the change would mean for their own property and because there isn’t a buyer expressing interest.
“It just doesn’t make sense to change it all if there isn’t a buyer in mind,” Ryan Konicek said at the hearing. “You’re limiting me to what I can do with my own land.”
But, Village Administrator/Clerk Mary Cole explained that changing the zoning only affects property owners if they sell their land and/or change the use of their properties. Residents who have one home on their lot, for example, can keep it that way, but they cannot make changes like dividing their parcels to build additional houses.
Steve Jansen, village president, explained that trustees are charged with looking to the future and making smart decisions to avoid problems in the future.
“Businesses look at zoning when they’re shopping for new locations so having this in place will hopefully mean we’re bringing in more jobs, which is the name of the game,” he explained. “But we also have to avoid having spot zoning where we have residential alternating with commercial because that just creates more problems down the road.”
Trustees are also expected to approve a conditional use permit for a new Dunkin’ Donuts at the site of the former Dairy Queen, 9209 Durand Ave. The village Planning Commission gave the new store its stamp of approval last Thursday.
The Sturtevant Village Board meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 2801 89th Street. Call (262) 884-7200.