Geneva aldermen OK warehouse distribution center

Geneva aldermen this week unanimously granted conditional site plan approval for a 274,800-square-foot warehouse distribution facility on Route 38.

The applicant, Duke Realty, wants to buy almost 20 acres of vacant farmland on the north side of Route 38 near Kautz Road, just east of the intersection with Elm Road, at 33W300 Route 38.

Duke Realty did not identify a specific end-user, City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins said.

The light industrial use is supported in the future land use plan of the 2003 Geneva Comprehensive Plan, Dawkins said.

"To facilitate this project, the applicant also requested a zoning map amendment (from business to light industrial)," Dawkins said.

"At this time, the development qualifies as a 'by-right' development, meaning the proposal meets the requirements of the Geneva zoning ordinance," Dawkins said. "If site plan approval is granted by the city council, the project would then continue to final engineering approval, which is administratively reviewed and approved by city staff."

At a March 24 meeting, the planning and zoning commission unanimously recommended approval of the requests, she said.

The proposed warehouse distribution center would have 257 auto parking spaces, 49 truck docks and 48 trailer spaces, documents show.