ROCHELLE — Rochelle City Council members gave the nod to a local cold storage company that is seeking to expand their facility.

Americold Logistics, LLC requested a height variance to construct the 183,000 square foot building, which would have a height of 140 feet. Current Rochelle Municipal code allows for buildings to have a maximum height of 60 feet.

“Americold has provided documentation of approval from the Federal Aviation Association, the Illinois Tollway Authority, and the proposed building meets the proper setbacks as required by the building height and area requirements found in the adopted International Building Code,” said Sue Messer, Interim City Manager.

The property is surrounded by industry on the west, the tollway on the south, Wiscold Drive on the north, and a residential park district property on the east.

In the proposal, the new facility would use an automated storage and retrieval system, attaching to the existing building on the south end.

The expansion would add 55,000 pallet positions.

Council also approved the rezoning of the property from rural development to I-2 immediately adjacent to the facility for a parking lot.

After reviewing the facts at their meeting last Monday, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended council approve the ordinances.

City Council approved easement agreements with Rochelle Township High School for the construction of a permanent access road from 20^th Street to Well 11 as part of the construction of the radium removal plant. The easement consists of space for the two-lane access road to handle ongoing maintenance traffic for the removal plant. Estimated cost for the city to contribute for that section of the road is $19,000.

Council approved the purchase of a new leaf vacuum at a cost of $51,766.45 for the fall leaf collection program that was implemented in 2010.