Residents voiced their concern about two industrial developments on the city’s south side Wednesday.

The DeKalb plan commission held a public hearing during its regular meeting for a business park and industrial subdivision that would surround Illinois Route 23 and Gurler Road.

The 343-acre industrial site would include a logistics center for research and a business park.

“We intend on bringing new jobs and relocating the truck traffic onto Peace Road instead of Illinois Route 23,” said Gerard Keating of Keating Resources, which is in charge of the development.

The plan met fierce criticism from the public.

“I feel that this development will cause an even larger amount of traffic congestion and an increase of railroad activity,” said DeKalb resident Tom Inboden, owner of Imboden’s Meat Market, 1106 N. First St.

Many residents complained the development would cause excessive traffic, extra pollution, large building sizes or potential water problems stemming from a water main.

“We found that the water system is already inadequately maintained, and we intend on fixing it,” project engineer Bill Boden said.

The other development, 201 Harvestore Drive, focuses on the planning of a heavy industrial park.

The planning stages also include a rezoning of 7.7 acres to high industrial usage and establish an industrial park at the same site, with an additional 6.5 acres of property already zoned for industrial use.

Also, one of the topics discussed at the meeting was a re-zoning of a residential development in the area, which involves housing concerns and new fees from the DeKalb School Board and Park District.

“Looking at the long list of development growth in the next five years, we recommend that a yearly increase be in place,” School Board President Andy Smalls said.

The school board suggested fees would be adjusted and collected to handle any new lands slated for residential annexation.

The next plan commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St. The board extended the hearing to its next meeting.