(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, June 10th, in the City Council’s Chambers at City Hall. The Commission is expected to review and discuss an Industrial Building Addition site plan for Olsen Properties, LLC, at 5 Commerce Street.  Owner Keith Olsen is seeking a permit to build an addition to his warehouse on the site, for the purpose of cold storage, mostly delivery truck storage. The site permit will allow the current structure to be “squared-off,” so trucks and equipment can be stored and protected from the outside elements. The proposed addition is 33-feet by 30-feet (or, 990-square feet), on the northeast side of the existing building.

The Commission will also review and discuss the City Council’s referral on vacating a “Phantom” right-of-way between 401 Laurel, 405 Laurel, and 411 Laurel. During the May 21, 2025 City Council meeting, Mr. Rob Stamp requested that a phantom alley be vacated near his property. He was informed the process begins with a letter to the Council and then is referred to the Planning & Zoning Commission for review and a recommendation to the City Council on action. Since the format of the letter was not specified, Mr. Stamp, being very successful with his business and short on time, chose to submit his letter in the form of a napkin and it has been scanned for Council. He has since provided a map of the property in question.

City Administrator John Lund says Public Works Director Kirk Knudsen, Wastewater Superintendent Tim Snyder, and representatives of AMU’s electric and water divisions have reviewed the alley, and no hidden
utilities or utility easements exist on this property. The supermajority of the phantom alley is in the flood plain. The lots abutting the alley are a mixture of “I-1” or Light Industrial, “I-2” or Heavy Industrial, or “R-3” High-Density Residential. Given the proximity of the phantom alley to industrial property, being located largely in the flood plain, and the fact that alleys have fallen out of favor in modern residential land use planning, there is little value of this alley to the City for future development.

In other business, the Planning and Zoning Commission will review, discuss, and vote on proposed Phase 1 Zoning Ordinance changes for Articles 1-though 6 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, and forward their report to the City Council.