A vote to proceed with a proposal closing Springfield Road and a portion of Industrial Drive to accommodate an LSC Communications expansion could come as early as Thursday, according to Mayor John Kamler on Tuesday.

Kamler said he was planning to call for a special meeting immediately following the 6 p.m. joint Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen public hearing. Two hearings for rezoning requests, both from R-1 to R-1A (allowing smaller houses than required in typical residential settings) will be first on the schedule.

Residents wishing to have their comments read into the record on the LSC request to have Springfield approaching the old railroad crossing and the western portion of Industrial closed must do so either in writing or via email (citygov@cityofowensville.com) by 5 p.m. April 30. The hearing Thursday will be conducted via the Zoom meeting platform. Only comments received by the deadline Thursday will be included in the record. No public comments may be submitted via Zoom but you may watch and listen to the proceedings.

This will be Zoom meeting No. 6276501438. The log in access pass code is 653187. As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been no comments submitted to City Hall staff. Paid Public Notice advertisements have been published in The Republican. Notices have also been posted on the City Hall doors, on Facebook, and the city’s website.

Residents within 185 feet of the proposed road closure areas have been notified by certified mail about the hearing, according to Deputy City Clerk Peggy Farrell who handles minutes and meeting agenda scheduling for the Planning and Zoning Commission. She said she also notified any residence she could locate an address for along Old Highway 19 and residents of the senior apartment complex.

Kamler said he intends to have a notice posted about the convening of a special session of the Planning and Zoning Commission following the hearing. He said he would like to receive an up or down vote on the request from LSC Communications. Then, if the  P&Z commissioners make a recommendation that the Board of Aldermen proceeds with the process to vacate the roadways, Kamler said plans to call for an immediate special meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

If that occurs, Kamler said the aldermen could take action to approve a P&Z recommendation which starts the clock on final approval. There is a waiting period of 14 business days from when a vote is taken by elected officials to take certain action. This allows for additional public input. Once that waiting period expires, aldermen can vote to take final action on the road vacation request.

Kamler met Monday in person for an hour and 45 minutes with John Paul Quick with the city’s attorney, Ed Sluys, joining them via Zoom meeting. Kamler said their negotiation with Quick would be presented Tuesday to the Board of Aldermen in their closed session.