Board approves Cargo Loop variances for US 31 warehouse after site redesign

The Cicero Jackson Township Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 17 approved three development‑standards variances for Cargo Loop LLC at 22275 US 31 North, allowing warehouse doors on the front facade, visible loading berths and a reduction in required parking‑area plantings. The three motions passed by roll call votes of 3–0, with Scott Bicoski, Mark Thomas and Steve Zel voting in favor.

Andy Wart, agent for Cargo Loop LLC, told the board the project will replace an existing 4,000‑square‑foot building with a roughly 20,000‑square‑foot office‑warehouse. He said the team reoriented the building — "As a result, we we've turned the building 90°" — and moved it so loading docks are less visible from Englewood, and added foundation plantings and a fence to reduce visual impact. Wart said the facility will use a private well initially and connect to public water and sewer when available from the Hamilton County Regional Utility District.

Board discussion focused on whether the revised orientation and proposed landscaping sufficiently mitigate visual and operational impacts from Englewood. Legal counsel and the plan director distinguished between "warehouse doors" (drive‑through openings) and "loading berths" (truck pull‑up docks), and confirmed both features fall within the ordinance definitions that require variances. The board noted the site will still undergo a separate aesthetics review by the plan commission.

The three approved dockets were BZA‑0826‑25‑C4 (warehouse doors facing east), BZA‑0826‑26‑C4 (loading berths visible from east/in front) and BZA‑0826‑27‑C4 (reduction of plantings around parking). Each motion was moved and seconded and passed on a 3–0 roll call vote. No members of the public spoke during the open comment period for these dockets.