New business nears approval to build

A local project got preliminary plat and site-plan approval from the Lebanon Planning Commission on Tuesday night, but the players involved are playing it close to the vest when it comes to details about the business involved.

The project reportedly involves a roughly 685,000-square-feet  facility to be along State Route 840 off of Central Pike as a part of Farm State Route 840. When complete, it will employ up to 200 people. The "user" identity is being withheld at their request.  

Lebanon Planning Commissioner Paul Corder was a bit more forthcoming about the business, which has requested to remain anonymous during the preliminary process.

"The planning commission approved the preliminary plat and site plan [Tuesday]," Corder said Wednesday morning. "It looks to be warehouses and a lot of loading docks. It's a large development."

As to just what will be warehoused and loaded at the facility, Corder couldn't say.

"I don't know," he said with a laugh. "A lot of times I'm the last to know. I've heard different things, but anything I'd say would be pure speculation."

He did know the business owners are on a tight schedule, and said the mystery business still has to get final plat approval. He said, according to state regulations, the business will have to have a security gate.

"I expect they will be back for that final approval next month," Corder said.  

Trent Skillman with Duke Realty was listed as the person requesting approval from the planning commission.

He also said his hands were tied about discussions on what the business will be until the project gains final approval.

"I can't go into any detail," he said with an apology. "The company is taking a bit of a risk in developing the pad site before the final approval, but it's a small risk."

He did say the products that would be stored and loaded there "are everyday products, nothing hazardous."

Skillman agreed the project would expect final platt approval at the February planning commission meeting.

"When you hear what the business is you'll go 'Oh, OK, that makes sense,'" he said.

A local project got preliminary plat and site-plan approval from the Lebanon Planning Commission on Tuesday night, but the players involved are playing it close to the vest when it comes to details about the business involved.

The project reportedly involves a roughly 685,000-square-feet  facility to be along State Route 840 off of Central Pike as a part of Farm State Route 840. When complete, it will employ up to 200 people. The "user" identity is being withheld at their request.  

Lebanon Planning Commissioner Paul Corder was a bit more forthcoming about the business, which has requested to remain anonymous during the preliminary process.

"The planning commission approved the preliminary plat and site plan [Tuesday]," Corder said Wednesday morning. "It looks to be warehouses and a lot of loading docks. It's a large development."

As to just what will be warehoused and loaded at the facility, Corder couldn't say.

"I don't know," he said with a laugh. "A lot of times I'm the last to know. I've heard different things, but anything I'd say would be pure speculation."

He did know the business owners are on a tight schedule, and said the mystery business still has to get final plat approval. He said, according to state regulations, the business will have to have a security gate.

"I expect they will be back for that final approval next month," Corder said.  

Trent Skillman with Duke Realty was listed as the person requesting approval from the planning commission.

He also said his hands were tied about discussions on what the business will be until the project gains final approval.

"I can't go into any detail," he said with an apology. "The company is taking a bit of a risk in developing the pad site before the final approval, but it's a small risk."

He did say the products that would be stored and loaded there "are everyday products, nothing hazardous."

Skillman agreed the project would expect final platt approval at the February planning commission meeting.

"When you hear what the business is you'll go 'Oh, OK, that makes sense,'" he said.