City council approved changes to the Comprehensive Plan for two parcels of lands owned by Joel Blessing
In a unanimous vote, Milford City Council approved a request to change the comprehensive land use designation for a property owned by Joel F. Blessing, known as the Blessing/Frisco parcel. This land is located on Holly Hill near the intersection of Milford-Harrington Highway.
“A little over half this property is future industrial,” Rob Pierce, City Planner, said. “The main change would be taking the rest of the farm and changing it from low density to industrial. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 5-0. There are no pending land applications on this property. It is currently outside city limits, but the comprehensive plan change would identify this as industrial. It could come back for annexation.”
Councilman Jason James asked what was located near the property.
“To the west, you have Nutrient Ag and we approved I-2 on that piece,” Pierce said. “Baltimore Air Coil is farther west at the end of Holly Hill Road. They were annexed in over the last few years. Heading east, you have Gromark, U.S. Cold Storage and Southern States. There is a band of industrial in this general area. It has been noted that other municipalities are looking to take advantage of the existing rail, offering opportunities for industrial against the railroad instead of housing. This is a trend across the central part of the state.”
Councilman James pointed out that it appeared that there was already a significant number of industrial sites in this area.
In addition to the land on Holly Hill Road owned by Blessing, another request to change the comprehensive plan was approved for the same property owner. This request was to change two parcels of land from low density to commercial. The land is located on Milford Harrington Highway near Independence Commons.
“There is an RV dealer, a tax professional and some other commercial uses in this area,” Pierce said. “Our future land use and current maps designate the frontage. This would fill in the low density residential to the rear and kind of close that gap. If there ever was a time that Independence Commons expanded on those lands, even if by private sources, it does not make much sense to leave a low-density donut hole there between Milford Harrington Highway and the business park. There is no pending land use for this currently.”
The request was also approved unanimously after a public hearing during which no one spoke for or against the request.
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