Council reviews two west-side business development projects          

[April 27, 2007]  Members of the Lincoln City Council heard summaries this week concerning two separate final plats slated for development in Lincoln's west-side business district. The Lincoln Planning Commission reviewed plans for Graue Inc. and the I-55 Commercial Park on April 19.

Attorney Phil Montalvo was present for the Graue project, and Eric Burwell was there for the I-55 Commercial Park.

City attorney Bill Bates provided the summaries and answered questions raised by aldermen. A concern was raised at the council meeting from area businesses and at the Lincoln Planning Commission meeting by Culver's owner Elaine Aue that business patrons in that area would have street access to the street that will run on the easement in front of the Graue property.

While the road will not be owned by the city, it will be on the property easement, and the development agreement stipulates that whoever is owner of the property will keep that road accessible.

Lincoln Street Superintendent Tracy Jackson confirmed that the street will be on the city's snowplowing list and will be completely cleared between Connolly Road and Beverly Drive, with no breaks or piles.

Chris Graue said that they will not be parking any cars along that road, and it will be open for public use at all times. Graue assured Aue that he thought the businesses would be good neighbors; there would many hungry, out-of-town customers and their large staff eating their burgers too.

Bates told council members that the Lincoln Planning Commission had determined 8-0 to recommend approval for the business development plan for that location to the council.

The final plat for the I-55 Commercial Park was approved 8-0 by the Lincoln Planning Commission as well. The subdivision plat had been revised to add another parcel and it had been re-subdivided.

It has six salable lots: five parcels owned by BLP, represented by Eric Burwell, and a parcel owned by Norman Muck, Norma Muck and the Harold Park estate.

The property is bordered by Interstate 55 to the west, Route 10 and Woodlawn Road to the north, Heitmann Drive to the east, and Olson Drive to the south. Ball Drive runs north and south between the lots. Russell Stover Candies and Holiday Inn Express are at the corner and between lots on the south side.

A parcel owned by Muck was added for a more complete subdivision.

The redividing causes a couple of the inner lots to not have access to city sewer, and it was stipulated that buyers of those parcels need to be apprised that they would need to install injectors at their own expense.

The plans for the retention pond for that area had changed. It has been relocated to the northwest corner lot, and as such the buyers of Lot 1 would need to be made aware that they would be responsible for the maintenance of that pond.

Greene and Bradford of Springfield served as engineers for both plats.

There were no objections raised to either plans at the planning commission or at the council meeting, nor has city zoning officer Les Last received any objections.

The plans will come to a final vote before the council at their business session on May 7.

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