EDWARDSVILLE – A zoning request in Jarvis Township was approved 17-8 by the Madison County Board at Wednesday’s meeting.
Several area residents spoke out against the request, and petitions have been submitted against it.
Ryan Lybarger and Jason Askew had requested a special use permit to allow a landscaping business to operate on the property, located in an agriculturally-zoned area in Jarvis Township along Troy Road.
They had originally requested a variance to place a building within a setback zone and the special use permit in January. After residents objected to the building’s location, they withdrew the request to negotiate with neighbors.
One issue with the building’s location is that there are power transmission lines over part of the property, requiring buildings to be elsewhere.
A modified request with only the special use permit was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Building and Zoning Committee.
However, numerous nearby residents signed petitions opposing the special use permit, based on a number of factors ranging from the residential nature of part of the area, concerns about late hours of operation and storage of materials and vehicles, and the exact location of the building.
Some had expressed concerns about what would happen if the business were sold. However, officials said that a special use permit applies to the owner, and any new owners would have to go through the process again.
After some discussion by the full County Board, they voted 17-8 in favor.
Those voting against were Stacy Pace, R-Troy; Bobby Ross, R-St. Jacob; Mike Walters, R-Godfrey; Bill Stoutenborough, D-Alton; Mike Babcock, R-Bethalto; Jamie Goggin, R-Edwardsville; Chris Guy, R-Maryville; and Erica Conway-Harris, R-Glen Carbon.
Ryan Kneedler, R-Collinsville, abstained.
Four other requests were approved.
Justin Lynch and Chelsea Lynch had requested a special use permit to operate a hair salon from a home at 7541 Lake James Drive, Edwardsville; Robert and Kimberly Martin sought a variance to create a 1.33-acre tract of land, rather than the required 2 acre tract, at 60 Illinois 4 near St. Jacob; Anthony Shoeber on behalf of HWS Real Estate requested the rezoning of 3237 W. Chan of Rocks Road from R-5 Multiple-Family Residential to B-3 Highway Business District; and Carl Watt requested a special use permit to allow a nail salon in a residence at 1218 Key Largo Terrace, Edwardsville.
Also approved was a resolution authorizing the 2022 Green Schools program funding.
The program includes a number of specific programs with set funding amounts, including $7,932 for county sponsored competitions and programs; $3,000 for continuing educations for green school coordinators $5,625 for coordinator and school recognition; and $25,843 for school grants and incentives.
Schools receiving grants include St. Ambrose Catholic School, South Primary School and Roxana Senior High School in the Roxana district, East Elementary School in the Alton district, Meadowbrook Intermediate School in the Bethalto district, Lincoln Middle School and Leclaire Elementary School in the Edwardsville district, Highland Middle School and Highland High School in the Highland district, Trinity Lutheran School, Evangelical School, and East Alton Wood River High School.
The board also approved accepting a bid of $624,888 from Depew & Owen Builders Inc. of Centralia for the replacement of a single span bridge on East Mill Creek Road over Mill Creek in Jarvis Township.
Source : The Intelligencer
