Sanitary, water, road signs, landscaping addressed in early plan
By Laura Katauskas | Staff Reporter
Plans continue for an industrial operation to take shape at Bluff Road after being annexed into Romeoville’s city limits and rezoned for industrial.
The Romeoville Village Board recently reviewed a preliminary planned unit development by CT Realty that will reshape a 112-acre portion of land at the corner of Bluff and Joliet roads.
CT Realty has plans for two buildings of 1.3 million square-feet industrial distribution space.
Mayor John Noak reiterated that every step of the project will go through final review with the village’s engineering department before construction will take place.
The area was also recently classified as a TIF district and will be funded in part with funds allocated to help rebuild such areas. To assist with infrastructure and environmental issues, CT Realty will receive a redevelopment agreement in the amount of $14.5 million over the life of the TIF district; with the first $300,000 submitted to the developer.
According to village documents, water service and sanitary sewer collection service will be provided by Illinois American, the Village will provide additional sanitary sewer transmission service and sanitary sewer treatment service for flows generated by the development. CT will be required to fully reconstruct that portion of Bluff Road and will also be placing three signs with flashing lights to advise motorists of the presence of trucks entering and leaving the annexation site.
Due to a steep slope, the building will be sitting lower on the property (40 feet below Bluff Road); landscaping is being designed so light will not escape into the neighborhood across the street.
CT will also contribute $250,000 toward the cost of the village’s animal control facility project and will satisfy its obligations under the village tree replacement ordinance by contributing $150,000 to the Will County Forest Preserve District for ongoing facility improvement projects within the village.
Village documents state that the general development plan shows Building A as 657,540 square-feet with up to 124 truck docks or doors, 380 car parking spaces, and 167 trailer parking spaces. Building B would be 684,320 with up to 134 truck docks or doors, 501 car parking spaces, and 188 trailer parking spaces. Both buildings would be precast construction with office areas located in the corners.
The closed fly ash landfill and several areas that contain construction debris and other waste dumping will remain on site and will not be disturbed. The other areas will be cleaned up through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) voluntary remediation program. The road will be widened to a three lane cross section and rebuilt to a standard that can handle trucks.
During a previous planning and zoning public hearing, a number of Lemont residents voiced concern over the project citing various issues from traffic back up to decreasing property values.
Carter Ewing, Managing Partner CT Realty, stated that the intent of the design is to allow for some stacking but does not think there will be any back up issues. Issues stemming from lighting and loss of trees were addressed in preliminary plans.