Board idles truck terminal plans

La Crosse Tribune, Sep 24, 2004 by Magney, Reid

A trucking companys move to rural Bangor will have to wait for La Crosse County officials to reconsider their zoning.

The county board Thursday voted 18-14 to send Hot Line Freight Systems' rezoning request back to committee.

The Onalaska company wants to develop nearly 32 acres on Hwy. B near Interstate 90 as a trucking terminal because it has outgrown its current space.

But the land Hot Line wants to develop surrounds the home of Daryl and Maureen Wermedal, W2255 Hwy. B.

Neither the company representatives nor the Wermedals got to speak at Thursday's meeting, but county supervisors debated the issue.

"I'm moving to the country myself, and I wouldn't want to be surrounded by trucks," said Supervisor JoAnn Scharpf.

Supervisor Andrea Richmond argued against delaying action. "We need more jobs," she said.

The company now employs about 200 workers and anticipates growing to 352.

Supervisors had been lobbied about the issue in recent days, and several said they need more time to get questions answered and for another public hearing.

Supervisor Don Bina offered an amendment to keep Hot Line from parking trucks on land on the other side of the Wermedal's house. There was also discussion of requiring the company to put tip fences or trees around the house to block the view.

The rezoning could come up again at the Planning, Resources and Development Committee meeting Oct. 4.

in other business, the board also wrangled over another rezoning in the town of Holland.

By a vote of 26-6 after much debate, the board increased the number of homes that can be built east of Hwy. XX from 45 to between 100 and 103.

M & J Properties of Holmen plans to develop 124 acres of land, but the town plan now calls for two-acres lots. However, town officials are revising their plan, and want to see 3/4-acre lots instead.

"With two-acre parcels you start eating up land," said Supervisor George Hammes, who is also chairman of the Holland Town Board. "Who needs a two-acre lot?"

Others, however, expressed concern that the land isn't being served by Holmen village sewer and water, especially because there are high levels of nitrates in the area's groundwater.