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City Lights: Redi-Mix move benefits east side
by Matt Muckler, City Administrator · Op-Ed · May 05, 2016
Earlier this week, the City Council took action that will move the Croell Redi-Mix concrete plant out of the core of our town and into the West Branch Industrial Park.
This project has some exciting possibilities and has the potential to have a big impact on our City moving forward.
We are fortunate to live in a growing city with a small town feel and close proximity to Iowa City. This project is a prime example of the Council’s commitment to implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan and to utilize smart planning principles to make West Branch even more appealing and increase the quality of life in our community.
There is a lot of good news here. First, this acquisition will move a concrete plant out of a residential neighborhood near downtown West Branch and open up redevelopment opportunities in the core of our city. Second, Croell Redi-Mix will continue to provide their customers with excellent concrete and customer service in a new plant in a great location in West Branch.
The City Council purchased a 12-acre parcel of land located at 145 Fawcett Drive in the West Branch Industrial Park (south of I-80) from Rummells Farms, Inc.
The property is located just east of Wausau and across Fawcett Drive (300th Street) from Procter & Gamble. The City also reached an agreement with Croell Redi-Mix to relocate their plant to an 8-acre portion of that property. After Croell’s relocation, the City of West Branch will take possession of the land currently occupied by Croell just north of East Main Street.
The idea was envisioned years ago and was formally adopted by the City Council based on advice from the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, when Mayor Laughlin served as the Chair of that body. The Comprehensive Plan details preferred future land use in the City and calls for residential development on the current Croell Redi-Mix site. There could possibly be a commercial component included in this space, and the acquisition could also allow the City to extend the Hoover Trail south to Main Street.
The City will close on the new property in the Industrial Park next month. Per the agreement, Croell has up to twenty months to get operational in their new location and it is anticipated that it could take up to two years before the City takes possession of Croell’s existing property.
Prior to development, the City Council will be reaching out to residents to gather your ideas on how the City should proceed with the existing Croell site. Based on that feedback, the City Council will make the decision on how to move forward.
One option could be for the City Council to facilitate a competitive process in order to identify a private developer.
The City has been working with Superintendent Pete Swisher with the National Park Service on wayfinding signage that will soon be installed on the Hoover Trail just north of the current Croell location, near the College Street Bridge to commemorate young Herbert Hoover boarding a train as an 11-year-old orphan to live with family in Oregon.
Perhaps, a “Train Depot” theme may be appropriate for the future site. We are open to any other ideas you might have as well.
The City benefitted from the assistance of Rod Ness with the Cedar County Economic Development Commission on this project.
The Mayor, Members of the City Council and city staff were also pleased to partner with Rummells Farms, Inc. and Croell Redi-Mix to make this project possible.
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