A City Council public hearing on a new rezone request by Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. of the Freeport Center is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at City Hall, 140 E. Center St.
The company, the world's largest manufacturer of refrigerated truck trailers, needs a new facility. Its current Freeport building is 56 years old.In February, the council voted 4-1 to deny a rezone request by Utility Trailer that would have allowed it to build a new facility on 55 acres just south of the Freeport Center at 600 E. 1700 South. However, residents of nearby subdivisions felt their lifestyle would be compromised by such a major manufacturing facility.
City officials and the trailer company have scoured the city for the past four months, looking for a new site where it could relocate. The company is interested in remaining in Clearfield.
The new site is at 870 S. 1000 West, or about two miles northwest of its former desired location.
This time the company doesn't need to rezone all of the land needed for a new facility. Only one acre needs rezoning from agricultural to manufacturing to give Utility Trailer adequate land. Its new desired site is at the west end of the Freeport Center.
Utility Trailer employs 530 workers, including at least 70 employees who live in Clearfield.
The Planning Commission has recommended the City Council approve the rezone request.