Despite a number of residents turning out to voice their opposition, the Montgomery Village Board Monday night approved the annexation and rezoning of 250 acres of farmland that is planned for commercial and industrial development.
The land annexed is north of Route 30 and west of Orchard Road.
The developers requested special uses as part of the planned unit development to allow for mining and a concrete ready-mix plant on a part of the property in the northeast portion of the site near Orchard Road and for a gas station and car wash on the property.
Other parts of the site may be used for a business park, offices and retail stores, according to plans.
In all, a number of ordinances centering around the property were approved. They included an annexation agreement between NGH Farms, LLC and Five H, LLC and the village, property rezoning, special use designations for the development and a tax increment financing district for the site.
In TIF districts, assessed value is frozen for the purpose of tax collection, and as the value of the property rises, the taxes created by increasing property value goes into a special fund, known as an increment. That money is used for expenses related to the development.
Residents have expressed concerns about the project, mainly focusing on the zoning changes, potential flooding issues, the impact on local traffic, possible noise and pollution from mining operations and more, officials said.
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Village Engineer Pete Wallers said there will be a “high level of scrutiny that will accompany the development,” especially concerning any potential flooding issues.
The planned mining operation would be allowed to be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, and closed on Sunday, from March 16 to Nov. 30. From Dec. 1 to March 15, it would be allowed to be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and closed on Sunday.
The ready-mix concrete plant would be allowed to be open the same hours as the mining operation. It would have to be set back at least 50 feet from the boundaries of the property.
Any part of the property set aside for mining but not used for that purpose can be use for farming, according to officials.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.