Committee advances conditional street vacations to let Sensient Colors consolidate campus and secure perimeter

Alderman Schweitzer carried Board Bill 136 for Alderman Rasheen Aldridge on Feb. 25. The ordinance, recommended by the Board of Public Service, would conditionally vacate portions of Elliott Avenue (from St. Louis Avenue to Montgomery), Montgomery Street (from Jefferson to Elliott) and a two‑foot wide east–west alley to allow Sensient Colors to consolidate land adjacent to its facility, extend fencing and create a secure perimeter.

Mike Solomon, senior manager of facilities and maintenance for Sensient Colors, testified under oath that Sensient owns the surrounding parcels, plans to extend fencing and landscape the vacated area, and expects the fence line to be roughly 200 feet back from St. Louis Avenue in the location described. Solomon said the facility employs about 407 people at the North Jefferson site and that the company is expanding natural‑color production at the plant.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about where new fencing would run and whether the company would abut St. Louis Avenue; Solomon said the fence would be set back from St. Louis Avenue and that one nearby house is vacant. No members of the public spoke in opposition. The committee voted to pass Board Bill 136 out of committee with a 'do pass' recommendation.