A new vending facility for ice may be built in Montgomery.
A free-standing Ice House America facility featuring fresh-ice vending machines has been proposed to be built at Barbara Lane and Douglas Road in the village.
Customers could access ice 24 hours a day at the site.
Some in the village have said the proposal isn’t the right fit for that location. Officials have said the plan isn’t in sync with the comprehensive plan for the village and said that the site should be used for more large-scale commercial development.
“I don’t usually go against the planning commission because they put a lot of thought into their matters, but there hasn’t been anything there for 20 years, so anything is better than nothing,” Trustee Denny Lee said in voicing his approval for the ice facility.
“The plan commission was worried about the long term, but there hasn’t been anything there for 20 years. There are only weeds there now.”
Mayor Matt Brolley noted that the proposal has generated some discussion.
“This has been an internal struggle, and I appreciate that nothing has been done there in 20 years. Is this the ideal use? Probably not. However, it is a perfect acceptable use,” Brolley said. “I am torn because we put a lot of time into revamping the corridor, and this isn’t the exact vision, but then I don’t own it.”
“I have no problem with the use,” Trustee Steve Jungerman said.
The proposed owners of the facility said the service would have some 6,000 pounds of ice on hand at any given moment. Customers determine if they want 10 pounds of ice for $1.50 or 20 pounds at for $2.50. The machine dispenses the appropriate-size bag once the consumer puts the money in the machine, developers said.
Trustees will vote on the measure at their next meeting. If approval is finalized, the establishment could be open within 60 days, village officials said.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.