Board backs rezoning (10/05/07)

A business that has been in Portland for more than five years may soon have a new home.

Members of a local board have voted in favor of rezoning land along West Votaw Street so a new building for Fastenal can be constructed.

The property eyed for the building is located along the north side of the street, just west of Ja-mar TV Appliance and Bedding Inc., and is currently zoned as agricultural. Brock Rittenhouse of Rittenhouse Properties, Bluffton, asked Portland Planning Commission members Thursday night to consider rezoning the land to highway service. Fastenal currently is located at 1607 N. Meridian St.

Commission members Bob Loucks, Tom Kennedy, Eldon Miller, Ken Walters, Judy Aker and Vicki Tague voted during the 5-minute meeting to recommend that the Portland City Council approve the rezoning request. Commission members Glen Bryant and Dolphus Stephens, and advisory member John Knipp, did not attend the meeting.

Rittenhouse told the commission he has purchased the land and will own the 60 x 100-foot building, which Fastenal will lease from him. He said the company has already signed a 10-year lease agreement and would like the business to open in the new location by Jan. 1. There will be enough room for the building to expand, if necessary, he said.

He said Fastenal is growing quickly and needs the larger building. The company sells tools, fastening equipment and construction equipment.

Troy Rose, the owner of Ja-mar, attended Thursday's meeting. He said he had no objections to the project.

Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator, said he has received no objections to the rezoning request from neighboring property owners.[[In-content Ad]]