(KLZA)  The Falls City Planning Commission met Tuesday afternoon at City Hall with three public hearings on the agenda with all topics connected to a proposed project by Consolidated Grain and Barge to build a large grain handling facility west of Highway 73 on the South edge of Falls City.  

The first two public hearings concerned platting 162 acres where the facility would be built,  five acres known as the Towle Addition and approximately 157 acres known as the CGB Addition.  Following much discussion both plats were approved by the Planning Commission.

Lincoln attorney J.L. Spray, who said he was representing David L. Frederick and a number of truckers from the region raised a number of concerns about how fast the entire process is moving.  ( play audio  1:04)

Spray went on to say later when the Planning Commission was discussing a recommendation on changing the zoning from agricultural to industrial that this is not redevelopment but development for one company.  ( play audio  :53 seconds ) 

Keith Marvin with Marvin Planning conducted a Blight and Substandard Study on the property and informed the Planning Commission of what his company was looking at.  ( play audio  :54 seconds ) 

Dave Irwin who works for Salem Grain and has spoken against the project from the beginning asked a number of questions of Marvin about the blight and substandard recommendation. ( play audio :25 seconds )  

City Administrator Gary Jorn noted that the cities current comprehensive plan recommends this property be re-zoned as industrial.  ( play audio  :31 seconds ) 

Planning Commission Chairman Marty Froeschl said while the proposal meets all of the criteria,  he would have liked to have had better information to base his decision on.  ( play audio  :53 seconds ) 

When the votes were taken the Planning Commission voted to approve the plats, recommend to the City Council the zoning be changed from agricultural to industrial and that the blight and substandard study also be recommended for approval to the Council.  

The City Council is scheduled to meet Monday, September 10th in special session to take action on the Planning Commissions recommendation of the Blight and Substandard Study prepared by Marvin Planning.