At the DeKalb City Council meeting Monday, a public hearing attracted many outspoken residents and officials, required additional seating and pushed the meeting late into the night.

A public hearing was held for an annexation agreement with Keating Resources to build the DeKalb Business Center just south of Interstate 88 with its capital partner, the Rockefeller Group.

“I hope that you pass this on Nov. 28,” said Gerard Keating, president of Keating Resources, when addressing the council. He also praised city staff for their representation of the facts.

Several residents were concerned the center would bring an enormous amount of truck traffic that would plague the city.

Controlling the truck traffic is the no. 1 issue, said 2nd Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen.

“My house was on sale, with activity, but now nobody wants to enter into a contract not knowing what is going on,” said Robert Becker, who lives across from the potential site.

“Why not offer to purchase these homes, like Nestle did?” Povlsen inquired. Keating responded by saying that he was not interested.

The example of warehouses combined with other business types shown on Saturday’s bus tour seemed more desirable to the area citizens. In such a case, the roadways would be less clogged with trucks.

“A mixed use in DeKalb would be a good thing,” said Tom Inboden of Inboden’s Meat Market, in an apparent change of heart brought on by Saturday’s trip.

One local resident close to the proposed site spoke in favor of the annexation. “They couldn’t have picked a better spot to put this,” said Jack Walker. “This is going to bring a lot of jobs to DeKalb.”

Many residents, in addition to council members, would prefer an office or research company within the center.

It would be nice if a certain percentage were devoted to office or research companies, suggested Pat Berry, County Board Member.

In response to the call for office allocation, Keating said warehouses would bring office space within them the size of which DeKalb wouldn’t otherwise see for five years. He argues the office space his development might produce will only settle within a warehouse development of this size. Rather, they do not come in without the surrounding infrastructure.

Council Member Donna Gorski submitted a packet of 11 questions to Keating Resources that will be available for public record. The questions addressed flooding concerns, the impact of increased truck traffic and the effectiveness of incentives.

“With DeKalb situated optimally to attract warehousing, are incentives in our best interest?” Gorski asked.