Updated plans for Geneva distribution facility filed

Outbound truck restrictions, cash for trees included

GENEVA – An updated proposal for a proposed 278,000-square-foot distribution facility along the east side of Kirk Road now includes weight restrictions for outbound trucks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and $50,000 for trees and bushes to screen Kirk Road for residents directly west of the property.

The developer of Geneva Farms North, CHI Acquisitions, LP, filed the updated documents a week in advance of an Oct. 18 City Council meeting where aldermen will decide whether to approve the 54-acre annexation, a zoning amendment from rural residential to light industrial, a special use and planned unit development.

The investment would be about $70 million, documents show.

As previously reported, the Geneva Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 Sept. 23 to deny the applicant’s request for a special use permit to develop the trucking facility on the parcel.

The planners ruled that the project would have “an adverse effect or change the character of the area,” citing the noise and traffic they said would be generated by the facility. That is one of nine standards required for a special use. The commission approved the other eight standards.

Some members of the commission indicated that from the documents and plans submitted, they believe Amazon is behind the effort to build the warehouse and distribution center.

The changes filed are:

• No truck having a Gross Vehicle Weight Classification rating of 7 or above may make use of Geneva Drive between Kautz Road and Kirk Road for purposes of accessing Kirk Road between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

According to the National Truck Equipment Association website, www.ntea.com, a truck weight classification of 7 is 26,001 to 33,000 pounds.

The gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum total vehicle weight, measured at the tire-ground interfaces, for which the vehicle possesses components adequately rated to safely carry, according to the website.

• Inbound trucks seeking access from Kirk or Kautz roads will not be restricted.

• The city will post notices to restrict all truck traffic, not just those connected to the site, and be responsible for enforcing it.

• The developer will establish an Off-Site Tree-Fund Deposit of $50,000 for the city to administer to residential owners directly west of the proposed development. Any money left 18 months after the date of annexation will be returned to the owner.

• The developer will fully construct the extension of Geneva Drive across the property to Kirk Road – if the Kane County Department of Transportation approves it.

• After Geneva Drive is extended, the city will prohibit its use for parking or on-street loading, unloading or truck staging.

• The city will use reasonable efforts to prevent railroad spur traffic from the Union Pacific Railroad main line east of Kautz Road, to and from industry located east of Kautz and south of Geneva Drive, from obstructing commercial traffic on Kautz.

• Neither the owner or developer will be required to construct or contribute to the future extension of Division Street.

• An increase of the right-of-way for Geneva Drive of the northerly 40 feet, a 10 foot increase from the previous offer of 30 feet.