Plan commission conditionally approves Haviland storage project after wetlands concerns

The Maryville Plan Commission voted unanimously to give preliminary approval to Haviland Properties’ proposal for nine single-story self-storage buildings on a 21.32-acre M-1 zoned parcel, but conditioned final sign-off on federal and local wetlands and stormwater clearances.

At the meeting, consultant Adam McAlpine said the site plan has been reviewed by Robinson Engineering and coordinated with the fire department. McAlpine said the project was presented previously at a workshop and that his client was ready to begin construction once approvals were complete. "The site plan has been reviewed and explained before," McAlpine said.

Craig Zantstra, superintendent of planning and resources for Lake County Parks, spoke during the public hearing and warned of significant environmental risks adjacent to Oak Ridge Prairie Park. "Probably anywhere between a half and 3 quarters of this property are delineated as wetland," Zantstra said, summarizing soil types and listing state‑listed plant and animal species found in the park and nearby, including state‑endangered flora and the black rail. Zantstra urged the commission to consider the potential for the development to draw groundwater and alter hydrology in the adjacent park.

Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff on the status of Army Corps permitting and on stormwater protections. An engineer representing Robinson Engineering told the commission that the plan had been reviewed and that only a few comments remained. Legal counsel noted that preliminary approval was within the board’s prerogative but emphasized it was not a final authorization.

Sean Pettit moved to approve the preliminary subdivision with conditions requiring submission and approval of the Army Corps of Engineers application and Maryville stormwater review in conjunction with the Lake County Parks Department; the motion was seconded and passed on a 7–0 roll call. Chair Uzelak said final approval would not be scheduled until those materials were in hand.

The commission’s conditional approval advances the project to the final‑approval stage, but the requirement that Army Corps and stormwater reviews be completed leaves substantive environmental questions to be resolved before construction can start.