GOSHEN — The town of Bristol could be in for a new trailer manufacturing facility following a meeting of the Elkhart County Plan Commission Thursday morning.Approved Thursday was a request by the Agnes B. Blakesley Trust and Universal Trailer Corp., represented by Marbach, Brady and Weaver Inc., for a zoning map change from Agriculture-1 to General Planned Unit Development Manufacturing-2. The property is in the Bristol Park For Industry.
Universal Trailer owners are considering purchasing the property in question, a 43-acre parcel located on the southwest corner of C.R. 4 and C.R. 29, from the Blakesley Trust with the goal of converting the property into a trailer manufacturing and outdoor storage facility.
The Cincinnati, Ohio company manufactures livestock, automotive and equipment trailers under a variety of brands, including Haulmark in Bristol and Wells Cargo in Elkhart.
“The main reason we’re starting with a GPUD is so that the developer can have a comfort level that this use will be allowed here,” said project representative Chris Marbach. “Assuming he gets the approval for that use, then he will go ahead and purchase the property and begin the process for a site plan Detailed Planned Unit Development application.”
According to Marbach, phase one of the project involves construction of a 120,000-square-foot building on the property. Four additional future phases planned would result in a 360,000-square-foot facility. In addition, the plan calls for 460 off street parking spaces, with an additional 1,146 spaces for trailer storage.
As for the makeup of the planned facilities, Marbach noted that unlike most current trailer manufacturing facilities in the area, the intent with the Universal Trailer proposal is to construct facilities which do not require outside storage of raw or in-process materials.
“They want to keep those all under roof for security reasons as well as a better finished product when they’re done,” Marbach said. “They’re very key on keeping all raw materials inside from now on in this facility.”
In addition, Marbach noted that the facility is being designed to employ lean manufacturing principles including the use of advanced manufacturing techniques in the forms of automation, coating and cellular manufacturing.
Marbach also told the commission that talks have begun to have the property annexed by the town of Bristol. Annexation would allow necessary water and sewer lines to be extended to the property.