EDWARDSVILLE – A request to rezone three acres near Highland to manufacturing from agriculture was voted down by Madison County’s Building & Zoning Committee Thursday.

The board voted 6-2 against the request by Helmsing Development Group Highland LLC to rezone the dual-zoned property at 13480 U.S. 40, Highland. Chairman Mick Madison and Terry Eaker voted in favor; Ryan Kneedler was absent.

Voting against the proposal were Bill Meyer, Bobby Ross, Dalton Gray, Robert Pollard, Victor Valentine Jr. and Nick Petrillo.

The company currently operates a custom trailer manufacturing facility on the property and wants to buy three more acres. Company representatives said they have no plans for the property but want all the zoning to conform.

Nearby residents expressed a number of concerns and submitted a petition with 79 signatures opposing the request.

Six other requests were unanimously approved, including the rezoning of almost 17 acres in Edwardsville Township for a farm centered on African agriculture, including goats.

David Wairimu is seeking to rezone 16.37 acres at 2952 Idle Acres Lane, Edwardsville, from R-2 Single Family to a Planned Development District. The Zoning Board of Appeals split 3-2 on the request with Chairman Don Metzler breaking the tie in its favor.

Wairimu wants to create a farm and cultural center focusing on African-style agriculture and crops. Goats, a staple of meat and dairy production in much of Africa, would be part of the focus.

In his presentation Wairimu said all of the animals and crops they would grow are available regionally but are sometimes difficult or expensive to obtain locally.

Two requests for special use permits for chickens in residential areas were also granted. Both included variances for setbacks to allow chicken coops within eight feet of property lines, rather than the required 20 feet, were also approved.

Wayne Melzer, owner of property at 559 Barkley St., Mitchell, and Steve and Julie Smith, owners of property at 2424 Crislisa Drive, Alton, made two separate requests.

In residential areas of unincorporated Madison County, residents may keep up to five hens if the property meets space requirements. No roosters are allowed. In areas zoned for agriculture chickens would fall under state regulations.

In both cases the petitioners had brought in chickens not realizing they needed special permits. Both property owners were seeking to have seven chickens, rather than the normal five allowed.

Other requests approved by the committee include:

• Scott Cope, on behalf of Williams and Carolyn Simmons, owners of 33 W. MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, requested the rezoning of .2 acres to B-3 Highway Business District from R-3 Single Family Residential to allow used car and portable building sales.

• John Cuvar Jr. and Thelma Cuvar requested a special use permit to replace an existing mobile home at 3157 W. Chain of Rocks Road, Granite City.

• Benito Saavedra-Basillo, requested a special use permit to continue placement of a mobile home at 3126 Amherst Avenue, Collinsville.

All the requests now go to full Madison County Board for final approval.

Trained as a photojournalist, Scott Cousins has 40 years of experience covering all aspects of news, primarily in the Metro East. His primary beats for The Telegraph in Alton include Madison County government and criminal filings, and he remains committed to the idea that a newspaper's first responsibility is to inform the public about what government is doing.