Aurora planners OK zoning change

The Aurora Planning Commission approved a request last week from Wortman Trust on behalf of Todd Vettel for a conditional use permit regarding a vacant lot between 8th, 9th and C Streets.
The property, currently owned by Wortman Family Trust, was scheduled to be brought to the city council Tuesday (Aug. 13) for the lot to be changed from its original designation of R-1 (Residential District) to C-2 (General Commercial). The plan, as explained during the Aug. 7 meeting, is to establish a trade school for International Workforce Services to continue training professional truck drivers.

(Editor's note: On Tuesday night at the Aurora City Council meeting, Mayor Marlin Seeman announced that request to change the zoning has been withdrawn by the property owners, thus there was no public hearing.)
Twenty-two residents, including members of the Aurora Planning Commission, were present during nearly two-hour meeting with multiple residents speaking against the zoning change during the public hearing.
The first to speak against the zoning change was Paul Grabowski, who suggested to the planning commission that the lot be used for residential development.
“I’ve never seen a For Sale sign on those lots that (Wortman Trust) is trying to sell,” Grabowski said. “I’m not sure what the price would be, but it may be choices for all income levels. Those lots may be a starting opportunity for a low- to lower-income level to build within an existing neighborhood.”
With the zone change to commercial use, Grabowski shared his concern about the existing residential properties losing value.
“By changing the zoning of this residential area where there are residents, people are living in the adjoining lots, in the lots across the street facing this, how does this make the city a better place to live?” Grabowski asked members of the planning commission. “To know that your home may be assaulted in that way with a city government that will not look out for you, that it will change where you live, the property across the street to less desirable as a resident?”
Other residents, such as Therese Runion, addressed the planning commission with concerns about the trucks moving in and out of the property being a risk to children and pedestrians who are traveling along the streets, particularly with the bus route no longer being available in town.
“I’ve already seen these kids, who didn’t take the bus before or walking more,” Runion stated. “If the parents aren’t taking them, they’re going to be taking 9th Street to walk to school and at the end from school. The concern that we have to have with these trucks moving in and out, these kids, I went behind them while they ride their bikes and they’re not really cautious.”
Ravi Singh also expressed concern about the dust created from white rock that trucks will drive over creating health risks.
“If Mr. Vettel gets his way and gets this to resurface with white rock, on a weekday the white rock will not only cause issues with the residents who like to have their windows open, my mother-in-law has COPD,” Singh commented. “Having dust constantly coming over to our area is going to affect her breathing.”
Chairman Jeff Morris shared with the planning commission and those in attendance a letter and signature sheet, signed by 28 residents, noted possible risks for children, loss in tax revenue and financial values.
Addressing the need to provide a space for students who will be staying in Aurora to complete their training, Vettel explained that he has been seeking the property for IWS drivers in training to be able to walk to the property from where they will be staying three to four blocks away.
“We support the transportation industry, which is in desperate need for drivers,” Vettel said. “The students spend between $1000 and $1500 in Aurora for the 35 days that they’re here, so there’s a lot of reasons to look at this for commercial purposes.”
Vettel serves as president of International Workforce Services, which will be teaching drivers how to inspect trucks as well as docking on the property.
“The company has been certified, licensed and regulated, including audited by NDOT (Nebraska Department of Transportation),” he continued. “We just earned our second-year certification and we’re becoming a skills tester. Having a concourse such as this one allows us to further our relationship with NDOT, and NDOT has encouraged us to do this because of the desperation for this kind of business. I think what we’ll do here is going to absolutely continue helping our neighbors and business.”
Kelsey Burgen, executive director of the Aurora Development Corporation, spoke in support of the requested zoning change.
“This property came up as a great location for what he’s looking to do,” Bergen said. “It also, in a comprehensive plan, shows it as being for future commercial use, which is what Todd is looking to do and there’s also other similar types of industries that are located around there, so that is something that fits really well for his business.”
Wortman Family Trust co-trustee Gary Warren shared his support for the zoning change and the prospects the trade school will provide for the community.
“On behalf of the trust and in the interest of keeping this business in our community and growing it, and it’s a much-needed one, we’re supportive of it,” Warren said.
When asked by committee members what the trucks will be used for and where the trucks will be traveling, Vettel stated that two trucks would remain on the property for training purposes.
“These trucks will be limited to vehicle inspections,” Vettel said. “The truck doesn’t even go unless they’re conducting some pre-vehicle startup and the second of the two trucks will be at 1500 or less RPMs, conducting a backing maneuver that will consist about 30 meters and then 30 meters forward again. These two trucks will be fixed instructional fundamentals.”
Vettel explained that the only times the trucks would be moving in and out of the property would be only to conduct maintenance or to be used for different purposes.
The conditional uses approved by the commission for the city council’s review were as follows:
* Installation of a privacy fence on the north, east and south sides of the property, all allowed within regulations;
* Lighting, if installed, will include motion sensors;
* Dust mitigation plan must be filed with the city if it is paved in white rock or any sort of rock;
* No truck traffic associated with the lot will occur on 9th Street or C Street;
* Two trucks will be allowed on the lot at a time for training;
* Operating hours where a truck has an engine running will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, not on weekends.