Cicero & Jackson Township speak, Board of Zoning Appeals listens

Proposed solid waste transfer station unanimously rejected

There are two main takeaways from Thursday night’s Cicero/Jackson Township Board of Zoning Appeals marathon of a meeting: (1) a transfer station is not a dump, and (2) neither of those things is welcome in Jackson Township.

The purpose of the meeting was to vote on approval two zoning variances, one of which would allow construction of a solid waste transfer station along U.S. 31 between 226th and 236th streets, an area inside Jackson Township but outside the Town of Cicero.

Given the large public attendance expected at the meeting, the Board first met at Cicero Town Hall to start the meeting in order to hear and approve the motion to move the meeting to Red Bridge Community Center.

Discussion of the transfer station zoning variance began at 7:33 p.m. Thursday evening.

The Board’s vote took place at 12:21 a.m. Friday morning.

Though the crowd dwindled after the recess, some citizens stuck it out to the end. (Photo provided)

During that near five-hour timeframe, numerous emails from the public were read. The public comment section began at 8:32 p.m. with the reading of emails. That continued until 10 p.m. when the Board called for a recess. After the recess, the Board opened in-person comments, which continued from 10:15 p.m. for approximately an hour and a half. Then the remaining emails were read into the record.

Several emails were identical with different signatures, and many contained concerns from citizens who said they feel Jackson Township has no voice.

Aside from the representative of the developer, there were zero comments in favor of the variance.

When the time to vote arrived 21 minutes after midnight, Board member Steve Zell said, “It is not a fit here in this community. It’s simply not a fit.”

The Board’s verdict was clear.

The four Board members present at the meeting all voted against approval of the variance: Mike Berry, Scott Bockoski, Harrison Massonne, and Zell.

Also present were Aaron Culp, legal counsel, and Cicero/Jackson Township Planning Director Frank Zawadzki. Board member Dennis Schrumpf was not present.