Bio-Solids Building Moves to Board for Consideration

Caledonia trustees will vote Tuesday on whether or not to approve the addition of a biosolids storage facility near I-94.

The village Planning Commission unanimously approved Wednesday changing 191.5 acres belonging to Dan Hintz to allow industrial/business park uses instead of recreational and commercial uses. The land is located roughly between Highway V and I-94, just south of Golf Road and includes the South Hills golf course.

Commission members also gave the nod to allowing heavy industrial uses on a 14.5 acre parcel in the middle of Hintz's property and for a conditional use permit that opens the door for Hintz to build a 72' x 420' storage facility. The building will house biosolids trucked in from the Racine Wastewater Plant that is made available for free to area farmers every spring.

Residents along both Highway V and Golf Road objected to any change in zoning because they're worried about their property values and any potential leaks that would contaminate ground water.

"The site in question is far from appropriate," Jane Siler said. "This use is not in the plan for the village. With assinine ideas like this, with hair-brained ideas like this, no wonder no one wants to locate here. Please do not allow the change in zoning."

Hintz pointed out that Caledonia residents are not exempt from being effected by the need to store biosolids because the village - like all other communities east of I-94 - is a partner in the Racine wastewater plant.

"This is our problem along with other municipalities, and the product has come so far in the last 20 years," he told residents. "That building will be in the heart of the property that I own. If there was any kind of odor, I wouldn’t put it next to my golf course."

Keith Haas, general manager of the water utility, explained that Hintz's building would only be used during the months after spring planting and that by the time the biosolids are ready for transport, they resemble a moist soil with only a faint odor.

"There is little to no odor because after processing at the wastewater plant, it’s an inert material like moist soil," he said. "The storage facility will be emptied out in the spring to get spread on farm fields throughout Racine County."

Full disclosure: Patch went on a tour of the wastewater plant last May. We stood just a few feet above the trucks holding the biosolids, and didn't really notice much of a smell.
   
This is free fertilizer for farmers, and instead of going into a landfill, is a more environmentally friendly and responsible method of disposal, Haas added. 

Village President Bob Bradley noted that with the PSC approval of the water agreement, water and sewer will extend to the expressway and development will follow.

"We need to change the zoning there anyway because with the water agreement we can extend the (tax incremental financing district)," he said.

Phyllis Johnson said learning more about the product made her change her mind a little bit.

"I'm okay with industrial and a dry product that helps our farmers," she told Hintz. "So, I'm not 100% against, but I don’t trust you right now." 

The Village Board meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave.