Carrollton resident sees subdivision in future

By Editor | January 31, 2024 |

By Carmen Ensinger

Carrollton resident and Mary Michelle Winery owner Ed Hindelang has some big plans in the works for the city of Carrollton, but he needs the help of the city to see those plans come to fruition.
Ed Hindelang spoke to five members of the Carrollton City Council and Mayor Mike Snyder during a special workshop meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Council members Gary Witt and John Banghart were absent.
Hindelang would like to develop 120 acres of land which he owns on the south edge of Carrollton but to do this he needs the help of the city to obtain a permit to run a sewer and water pipe under Highway 67.
“The State doesn’t allow an individual to apply for a permit unless they own both sides of the highway,” Hindelang said. “I only own one side. The only way I can get this permit is to have the city apply for it. You get the permit and I can put the pipe under the road under your permit.”
Hindelang said he would pay for everything.
“If you agree to do that, Jaime (Headon, with Benton and Associates) and I have talked and I will use their firm and pay for everything,” Hindelang said. “I want to make sure everything is done right and we put in the right size pipe and everything.”
The reason Hindelang needs the water and sewer pipe run under the highway to his land is that he has big plans for those 120 acres.
“I would like to develop those 120 acres into housing – family homes, senior housing and apartments,” Hindelang said. “I also want to put in a strip mall that would contain a grocery store and maybe a tractor store.”
Hindelang thinks the additional families in the community would encourage a grocery store chain to build in his strip mall.
“I think if some grocery chain sees that we are growing our community with more families moving into these new homes I hope to build, then there would be a good chance we could convince them to locate here,” he said. “Because right now, within the city and say five miles outside the city, we already have around 3,500 people.”
Hindelang said Public Works Director Steve Rosentreter said that the city’s current sewer plant could support an additional 1,000 homes. If the city grows beyond this, which he hopes it does, he has a plan in place for that as well.
“I took the Mayor out there and showed him the location I have for a sewer plant out there,” Hindelang said. “I would connect this pipe to this location which has two big ravines to catch rainwater runoff and a creek just below it that runs into Macoupin Creek which then runs into the Illinois River that provides drainage.”
Hindelang said he wasn’t sure just how much capacity he would use right now – it would depend on a lot of factors.
“There have been a lot of people try to develop property and it goes nowhere because you can’t sell the lots,” he said. “I would like to attempt it because if we don’t increase the tax base and the number of people who live here, then there is a chance we could lose our schools and that is the worst thing that could happen.”
But until he has the pipes in place under Highway 67, Hindelang said he doesn’t want to move forward.
“My goal is to move this forward and get the pipes under the road so I can go out and get a set of plans done for the subdivision,” Hindelang said. “I would then bring those plans to the city and let them approve them. But none of it makes any sense until we get the pipes under the road.”
Hindelang said he has the approval of two of the landowners across the road and all he needs is to get approval from the city to get the permit for the pipes to move forward with the project.
“I will pay for all the expenses once we get that done,” Hindelang said. “Jaime and his firm will do all the design work, which I will pay for, and then if I want to go out to some manufacturer of homes I can tell them I can build this many homes. I will have water and sewer ready to go. That is kind of my plan.”
The water line can serve a dual purpose for Hindelang.
“I want to use some of the city’s sewer plant run-off water to irrigate my hemp crop,” Hindelang said. “I lost a lot of money this year because of the drought. I need to have water to irrigate with and the city water is so expensive to use.”
Hindelang hopes the council will give their approval to apply for the permit at their February meeting.
“Truth is, I would like to get this done before I get too old to do it,” he said. “I really believe what I am planning to do here is going to make this city better. I love this place and I want to keep our schools open. I want to make this place better for everyone and I hope you will give me that chance.”