Batavia council approves Thompson Farm annexation, land-use and zoning changes; OKs downtown redevelopment agreement

The Batavia City Council on Feb. 2 approved a package of land-use measures that will allow a proposed 160-unit development at the Thompson Farm site and authorized a redevelopment agreement for a downtown property at 190 South Water Street.

Alderman Erin presented three ordinances related to the Thompson property at the corner of Onemouth and Fabian: an annexation agreement with Chicago Title Land Trust Company, an amendment to the comprehensive plan land-use map, and an ordinance annexing the territory and applying zoning to permit the draft concept development of mostly single-family units and some multifamily. Erin said the prior public hearing included lengthy discussion about infrastructure costs and bicycle connectivity. The council took separate roll-call votes and approved each ordinance.

Council also approved Resolution 2026-018-R, authorizing a redevelopment agreement with Manhattan Real Estate Ventures LLC for the former Pamarco building at 190 South Water Street to be converted into headquarters space for a software company. A staff member described the project as transforming a storage/industrial building into modern office space; council members noted nearby buildings such as Warehouse 55 and Batavia Art Studio will remain. Austin Dempsey, participating remotely for the developer, said, “If approved tonight, we hope to be under construction in the next 90 days.”

Votes were recorded by roll call. Each Thompson ordinance passed on separate roll calls with affirmative votes by the members present. The redevelopment resolution passed by roll call (recorded in the transcript as unanimous among voting members present). The council's consent agenda earlier in the meeting also passed and included several capital and contract approvals related to fleet and infrastructure.

The council discussion noted outstanding infrastructure cost questions raised at the public hearing; council members did not amend the ordinances on the floor and directed no additional staff action in open session. Next steps for the Thompson property are implementation of the annexation terms, technical permitting and detailed engineering, and standard zoning and building permitting processes. For the downtown redevelopment, the developer indicated a target to begin construction if necessary permits and approvals proceed on schedule.

Authorities referenced in discussion included the city's comprehensive plan and the specific ordinance and resolution numbers read into the record; the transcript lists the annexation as ordinance 2026-002 and the redevelopment resolution as 2026-018-R. The meeting packet contains the draft concept plan referenced by staff; details such as exact unit mix, infrastructure cost allocations and final engineering schedules were not specified during the council vote.