Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Concerns over increased traffic, noise pollution, and potential declines in property values are some of the issues that have united many neighbors in opposition to the proposed warehouse development off Palm Road in the Southwest corner of the Interstate 55 Chatham interchange.

The proposed project, if approved, would see the construction of a 226,800-square-foot warehouse with a planned 8-foot fence with an additional 2 feet of barbed wire along the top, according to the petition for variance. Although the site has been zoned I-1 or light industrial since the 70s, it is located across a four-lane road from a residential subdivision. Right now, the site is farmland and contains two large billboards facing the interstate.

“A lot of us didn’t know it was zoned industrial. We never expected they would want to put a building of that size on that site. Traffic is going to be horrendous,” said Fred O’Connor, whose residence is on Lakeside Drive just off Palm Road. “This is a really small interstate exchange that is already really busy.”

Leroy Gwinn bought his home in the neighborhood in 1968. He said he’s not against development of the property, but that it should not be a large distribution center. “This is the second largest school district in Sangamon County and the buses use the same road to take students to the schools.” Gwinn expressed concerns about the timing of a traffic study, saying it needs to be done during the school year and not the summer.

Melissa Smith who lives in the nearby neighborhood of Lake Knolls, is also concerned about the buses from the Ball-Chatham School District utilizing the same road since they use Lakewood Drive and Palm Road. Smith, who has closely examined documents for the proposed development, said the planned stoplight at Lakewood Drive would have school buses and semi-trucks interacting on a regular basis.

Brad Metzger has lived on Estate Drive for 17 years is concerned about what comes with the traffic – noise and diesel exhaust. Right now, he said the only semi they regularly see on the road is the one from the truck driver training program at Lincoln Land Community College. “When that semi is on the road, it is slow, and it backs it up.”

“Why here,” said Metzger. “There’s no infrastructure for it here.  If you go two miles down the road to Toronto Road, there’s a truck stop and miles of cornfields there.” He said the neighbors don’t want to stop progress but want to encourage the developers to think about what is the “right place” for the warehouse.

The TRN Club and KC Club are also off Lakewood Drive near the proposed site. Smith said a petition from the TRN Club is currently circulating. During events at the two clubs, and especially during Rock the Dock, traffic and parking along the shoulder on Palm Road already cause significant congestion in the area, according to Smith.

The Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission approved the variance request on June 20 by a vote of 9-1. The proposed height of the building is 45-feet, and the development is also slated to include 12,000 square feet of office space and a 5,180-square-foot fleet garage. Plans include trailer parking, bulk truck parking and car parking.

Senior Vice President of Development and Pre-Construction at Becknell Industrial Paul Thurston told the commission that the plan is to build a four-to-eight-foot berm with landscaping on top on both the east and west sides of the development.

The land is currently owned by Lakeview Acres, LLC who is looking to sell the 29.93-acre property to a developer who will build it to suit a corporate client. Becknell Industrial is a privately held real estate development firm focused exclusively on industrial buildings, including distribution centers and warehouses, according to their website.

Development Manager Taylor Bass said at the commission meeting, “It’s never a popular discussion when you put industrial next to residential, but we do everything we can to coexist in situations like this.”  Bass added, “I don’t have a great answer for the trucks.  That’s just inherent in industrial development.”  He said they were drawn to the site because of the “great proximity” to the highway. “They’ll be on and off.”

Capitol City Now reached out to Becknell Industrial for additional comment, but the call was not returned. Unnamed sources told the Springfield Business Journal that the end user is anticipated to be Frito-Lay.

Charles Young retired from Frito-Lay in Springfield. “It will be a 24-7 operation with lots of noise and potentially a lot of mess when the wind blows. Why they’re putting it here, I don’t know.”  He said Frito-Lay has manufacturing plants in Indiana, so he feels the best location would be off I-55 where it intersects with I-72 at Clear Lake.

The traffic engineering report presented to the commission indicated the adjacent roadways are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Capitol City News received the following statement from a spokesperson for IDOT regarding where they are at in the process: “An application will need to be submitted along with engineering analyses in the areas of hydraulics, traffic impacts and any geometric changes to the existing roadways before a permit can be granted for access into the property on Palm Road.  Through the application process, IDOT will examine several factors with an emphasis on safety and mobility.  At this preliminary stage, it is too early to set any timeline until an application, with all supporting analysis, is submitted.”

A group of residents has distributed 500 flyers to homes and neighbors in multiple subdivisions in the area asking for support in opposing the project. The commission’s recommendation will go before the Springfield City Council on Tuesday. O’Connor and other neighbors plan to be present at the meeting to voice their concerns.

Related article: Springfield aims to attract warehousing and logistics industry