Planning Commission discusses business park identity

The types of companies that will be allowed to set up shop in the new Sidney Business Park was discussed this week.

On Monday night, Sidney City Manger Gary Person told the Planning Commission a company has expressed interest in developing a lot in the new development. However, because the company would conduct retail operations, it is not currently permitted.

The business park is only zoned for heavy industrial uses.

Person said the company – Bomgaars – already has a location in Sidney but is looking for a new site to expand its store.

Bomgaars, with 69 stores in six states, sells farm, pet and hardware supplies, among other items.

“I wouldn’t categorize it as heavy retail,” Person said, “this is more ag-based heavy commercial.”

Throughout the years that the business park has been in the planning stages, the nature of the community has changed, he said. Even the revision of the development’s name – from Sidney Industrial Park to Sidney Business Park – reflects that change, Person said.

When the city purchased the land 16 years ago, it was to entice heavy industry – but would the community be better served by allowing some limited retail at the site, he asked.

“I’m just throwing it out there for discussion purposes,” Person added.

The debate was not an agenda item, but rather an opportunity for commissioners to express their thoughts.

Sidney Community and Economic Development Director Megan McGown said the idea wasn’t to rezone the entire business park, just a few of the lots.

Commissioner Casey Cortney said since the commission recently permitted a veterinarian clinic to purchase a lot in the development, she thought a sort of precedent had been set.

“I’d be in favor of it,” she said.

Commission Chariman Jerry Spiker said he thought it would be a good idea to allow Bomgaars into the business park.

“That land has sat there for 16 years,” he said.

Following the commission’s response, Person said he would schedule a public hearing for the next meeting to allow the proposal to be officially discussed and voted upon.

Earlier in the meeting, a conditional-use permit was unanimously granted to Longhorn Investments – the group that will be opening the veterinarian clinic at the business park – to open a mixed animal veterinarian hospital with boarding.

David Everston, Longhorn assistant manager, asked for permission to build three or four, 15-foot-by-15-foot corrals to hold large animals.

He said he expected to only have three or four animals at a time, but asked that the permit allow up to 10 animals in the case a truck wrecks on the interstate or some other worst-case scenario and the clinic must take in additional animals.

Commissioners approved the permit with a stipulation only 10 large animals could be boarded on the property at any given time.

Everston also introduced Jennifer Elliott, who will be the clinic’s veterinarian, to the commission.

Elliott said she recently graduated from Colorado State University and has lived in Peetz, Colo., for five years with her husband.

Everston said he hopes the business will be open in October, but it will depend on construction – before the clinic can be built, the city must first construct roads and install other infrastructure.

The next Sidney Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15 at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.