Batavia panel backs residential use for former Siemens site

To the dismay of its owners, former Siemens Automation (Furnas Electric) factory site in western Batavia took another step this week toward not being a factory after the Batavia Plan Commission recommended the complex, instead, be designated for residential use.

The move, which includes another lot as well, is in keeping with what the city's comprehensive plan and a 2005 position paper call for the site.

"Until about 14 months ago I was with you 100 percent on your position paper and the actions. Unfortunately, due to market conditions, the conditions for residential have gone into the toilet," said Howard Lange, a property manager from Siemens in charge of trying to sell the site at Van Nortwick Avenue and McKee Street.

He said Siemens had a deal lined up about a year go, but that fell through when the buyer couldn't get a loan. Recently, Siemens has had trouble even getting a broker for the site, he said; his request for proposals were returned with notes saying brokers expect it will be five to seven years before the market for residential development rebounds in this area.

Instead, Lange asked the commission to consider an overlay zoning district that would allow some light industrial use to continue, in new buildings.

But Mayor Jeff Schielke does not favor that. "Batavia has given Siemens plenty of opportunities to do something in good times and bad times ... we need to move forward and get this in to a zoning category that the city has some control over," he told the commission. Without the rezoning, heavy industrial uses would have to be allowed if they met minimum code requirements. He also doesn't think it would be appropriate to build things such as storage warehouses there.

Furnas Electric, began building out there in the 1940s, when Van Nortwick was the western edge of Batavia. (Furnas was sold to Siemens in the 1990s). Since then, an apartment complex was built to the west, and houses to the north. A few small industrial businesses lie to the south, and a residential neighborhood to the east.

Part of the site is on the north side of McKee, next to H.C. Storm Elementary School. Aside from a small parking lot, the lot resembles a park, and is used as such by neighborhood children. Residents asked Siemens Wednesday to consider donating that land to the school or park district. They also expressed worries over the effect any development would have on stormwater drainage in the area, saying they already suffer basement flooding and soggy yards due to a high water table. City officials said that when the factory was built, the town and county didn't have stormwater drainage rules like they do today.

Lange said the heating system is broken, causing the fire alarm sprinkler system pipes to freeze and burst. But Siemens is reluctant to spend money to fix the system in buildings that it plans to tear down. Jerry Swanson, the city's development director, said the city is considering an enforcement action against Siemens if it doesn't repair or raze the buildings.

Ultimately, the city hopes to have a mix of residential, office and commercial uses on the southern portion of the site, and residences on the north portion.

Part of the proposed rezoning includes the land Siemens leased for employee parking, to the west of the buildings. The owner of that land also objects to the rezoning, according to an e-mail read into the record by the plan commission chairwoman.

The commission unanimously recommended the rezoning. The community development committee will consider the matter next week, and then it will be forwarded to the city council.