The Sioux City Council in their meeting Monday approved first reading of rezoning a property in Leeds from commercial to industrial.
Dolf Ivener, owner of the property at 3700 Jefferson Street, had requested the property be rezoned to industrial.
Many residents had voiced their concerns about rezoning the property, including Ron Koch, principal of Leeds Elementary, and Barry Bohlk, president of the Leeds Community Club.
“Turning that land into industrial would introduce heavy-duty trucks, large machinery, and constant traffic in an area designed for families, not freight. That change would bring noise, dust, and congestion, and most concerning of all, it would threaten the safety of our children who walk and bike to school every day,” said Koch.
Ivener asked the city council to vote to approve the rezoning and to make site review a requirement. That he didn’t have anyone in mind for the property, but he can’t start a conversation without the property being rezoned.
One of the residents gave a suggestion on what could be done with the property, like a park with trails or prairie restoration.
Council member Alex Watters motioned an amendment that should a business come forward, it would be required to present a site plan before the public and zoning commission and city council for approval. It passed 3-2.
In September of last year there was an attempt to rezone the property from commercial to industrial, but it was denied. More than 600 residents signed a petition in opposition to Knife River Midwest to build a concrete mixing plant and storage on the property.
The property had been rezoned from industrial to commercial in 2015.
The rezoning passed 3-2, with Bob Scott and Dan Moore voting in opposition.
NOTE: The original version of this story had incorrect information on the measure that was passed in a first reading.