Rochelle News

Aug 31, 2023

By: Jeff Helfrich

Updated: 4 hours ago / Posted Jun 6, 2023

ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Monday, the City of Rochelle Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing for and unanimously recommended that the City Council approve a special use permit for a government multi-use fire training facility located at 920 S. Main St.

The property is approximately 12.06 acres and is currently vacant land. The subject property is zoned I-1 light industry, and a government facility in an I-1 requires a special use.

The joint project between the City of Rochelle and the Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District started to see movement in the past year. The 12-acre property that was donated to the city in 2020. Along with serving local fire personnel that struggle at times to find good training locations, the facility is planned to serve other entities in the region including law enforcement, electrical lineman, other City of Rochelle departments and possibly railroad personnel, Rochelle Fire Chief Dave Sawlsville has said in the past.

The project will be done in phases as money becomes available. The cost will be split 50-50 between the city and the OLFPD. The first phase is a small initial facility for firefighters to start training on. Most training is currently done at the Rochelle and OLFPD fire stations and is limited due to fear of damaging buildings.

"Right now, this is a multi-phase project," Sawlsville said. "This is phase one, getting metal structures on there for training. With 12 acres, the possibility exists of expanding into whatever the city and OLFPD decide is the best use. There are no plans right now for a secondary fire station down there due to how expensive it would be. But I'm not saying it couldn't go there. There's 12 acres. The possibilities are huge."

Another benefit of the planned facility is its potential to lower homeowner's insurance rates for area residents. The Insurance Service Organization rates fire departments and that plays into residents’ insurance costs. Rochelle and Ogle-Lee having access to a fire training facility would give them a better rating.

Housing

The planning & zoning commission also held a public hearing for and unanimously recommended that the city council approve a petition by Willis Senior Lofts Limited Partnership to combine three parcels of 400-420 Willis Ave. into one for a multi-family senior housing development for those aged 55 and older. The property is zoned R-5 multi-family high-density residential and is approximately 2.037 acres.

The proposed development is for a four-story building with 60 units. This development is an allowable use within the R-5 multi-family high-density residential district and only a subdivision is required. Buildings can't be built across more than one lot under city code.

916 S. Main St.

The planning & zoning commission held a public hearing for and unanimously recommended that the city council approve the subdivision of 2.855 acres of city property at 916 S. Main St. into a one-lot subdivision and as well as dedicate right of way and easements for use by the city. The property is zoned I-1 light industry. The proposed name of the subdivision is Veterans Parkway Industrial Park.

When the city was doing street improvements in the area and needed to acquire right of way, the opportunity to purchase the entire parcel came about, which it did. City Engineer Sam Tesreau said he's not sure what development will happen at the site, but it can be expected it will fall under light industry zoning.