Commission Approves Rezoning City Map

LINCOLN — The Lincoln Planning Commission met on March 12 to consider amending the Lincoln zoning map.

A request had been made to the commission to rezone the property at 17314 West U.S. 62 from A1, agriculture to M2, general industry.

A former business A+U Pull It had been located on the property.

City Manager Chuck Wood said the A1 zoning was left when the city annexed in property along East U.S. 62. “It was grandfathered in at the A1 zoning. It needs to be rezoned.”

The business that could come in if the property is rezoned is a car salvage and repair business.

The company would repair wrecked cars for insurance companies and either sell them at the U.S. 62 location or at auction, according to Wood. Salvage parts would also be available.

A public hearing was called on the same evening by Commissioner Doug Hutchens, prior to the commission meeting to see if any residents in the area opposed the rezoning.

No one appeared for the public hearing, therefore no opposition was expressed.

Hutchens then called the Planning Commission to order.

An application was presented to the commissioners to consider rezoning the area on East U.S. 62.

“It looks like all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed,” Jim Morris said

“It looks like all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”

of the application and rezoned map.

“We have a situation where we have to do something on the corridor along 62,” Morris said. “I think we ought to rezone.”

The commissioners approved the rezoning of certain lands in Lincoln, currently owned by Four Square Properties, LLC and modification of the zoning map.

Commissioners then turned their attention to a copy of a conditional use permit for a salvage auto yard, auto grave yard and auto rebuild shop.

Commissioner Harry Swain asked Steve Tibble, director of construction at Insurance Auto Auctions, who attended the meeting, how often would an auction be held each month on autos the company planned to rebuild.

“Once or twice a month,” Tibble said.

Swain said most of the traffic would be people looking for parts. Tibble agreed. The conditional use permit was approved.

Tibble was questioned before the meeting about the name of the company that would be relocating to Lincoln.

“We don’t usually give it out,” Tibble said.

An Internet search showed Insurance Auto Auctions office located in Westchester, Ill., which matched a legal council’s phone number given at the commission meeting.

Two calls made to that number went unanswered. A request was left on voice mail for the company’s legal council, Jeanene O’Brien, to return the call.

No call had been received from O’Brien by press time.

Lincoln City Clerk Barbara Barker said the company name was not included on documents she had for the Planning Commission.

Further Internet search revealed Insurance Auto Auctions is but one company under the corporation KAR Auction Services, Inc.

KAR Auction Services, Inc. operates auctions throughout North America, according to its website.

The company’s core business units include used vehicle operation Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), a salvage auto auction company.

Wood said the company could bring 15-20 jobs to the city.

“We need the jobs,” Wood said.

The commissioners ’ approval of the rezoning change was then passed to the Lincoln City Council for its approval.