When Hy-Vee Inc. officials recently announced they were in the exploratory phase of planning to build a new distribution center in Austin, the announcement received a generally positive reaction.

Mayor Tom Stiehm called it “a fantastic opportunity” and City Administrator Craig Clark said it “would be a great boost for our community.”

But, for citizens who live near the proposed site, on West Oakland Avenue, north of Interstate 90, the news was anything but welcome, according to those who voiced their concerns at the past two City Council meetings. The council on Sept. 15 approved an agreement for an environmental impact study of the site.

“I’m not denying that it’s a benefit to Austin, but what about those of us who live out there?” asked 37th Street Northwest resident Doug Bergemann during the Sept. 18 meeting. “We don’t know how many trucks, what time of day, the noise, the extra traffic, the safety concerns, not to mention I’ve talked to a couple appraisers and they’ve told me, ‘you’re going to take a hit in your property value.’”

Bergemann returned for Monday’s meeting, stating he showed his house for sale and was told the prospective buyers were not interested because of the distribution center.

Bergemann said he intends to come to every council meeting during this process.

“This project follows nothing within (the 2016 comprehensive) city plan about strategic growth, preservation of home values and smart growth,” said 33rd Street Northwest resident Jeff Brinkman during Monday’s meeting. “I would like to know how does this not constitute spot zoning to these folks and nearby folks when it was annexed and immediately zoned industrial for one purpose, one company.”

Other citizens addressed the council, stating their concerns about safety, traffic, noise as well as their dissatisfaction with the effect it would have on their lives.

Mayor Tom Stiehm and the council say they are open to citizen input. But, Stiehm also reminded them that he and the council are focused on the greater good in the city.

“One of the reasons (Hy-Vee) decided to come here is because of the site,” he said. “I’ve talked to other cities that have these distribution centers and they love them. They don’t have problems with them. You couldn’t ask for a better corporate neighbor than Hy-Vee and I think they are willing to work with us.”

“We will do our best throughout the city staff and council to have it be a good neighbor project and I trust that will be a concern for Hy-Vee too,” said Councilwoman-at-large Janet Anderson.

But what frustrates many of the residents is the lack of answers. It is a source of frustration for the council too.

“You know as much as we do,” Stiehm said. “We have gotten nothing about where it’s going to be, how many trucks and where they’re going to go in. We have gotten nothing.”

First Ward Councilman Jeff Austin was not surprised about the resident’s reaction.

“I think that no matter where they were to locate in this area, we’re going to have a roomful of citizens complaining,” he said. “Everybody thinks it’s a great idea, just not in my backyard. The process to attract a project like this is highly confidential along the way. These businesses go by pseudonyms, they go by project names. They don’t want anybody to know they’re out there looking because of their competition.”

Stiehm was not surprised, nor was he unsympathetic.

“If I was in your shoes, I would be sitting right where you are,” he said.