By Marney Simon
For the Bugle
Following several weeks of objections and a chorus of disagreement from locals and beyond, a trucking company has given up on its plans to bring a transit facility to Plainfield.
On July 27, Alexander Domanskis, an attorney representing GP Transco, sent a letter to the village announcing the company’s plans to withdraw their application to expand their company to the village.
GP Transco filed for the special use permit and related annexations for two properties back in May.
The company was seeking to turn the 32-acre industrial site at the southwest corner of Renwick Road and I-55 into a truck freight terminal transportation center.
The application included annexations of two properties along the western end of the residential homes on the road, which would have been used to create an access drive to the industrial park.
During public meetings in June and July, residents in nearby homes as well as supporters from throughout the village came to the board, arguing that the proposed $10 million trucking facility would create additional truck traffic, causing a danger to the health and safety of neighbors and drivers along that stretch of Renwick Road.
“GP Transportation Company had hoped and planned to become part of Plainfield with the construction of brand new headquarters, indoor truck maintenance facility and long term trailer parking area,” Domanskis wrote in the letter to the village. “Throughout the application and hearing process within the Village of Plainfield on our request for a special use, we have sought to listen and respond constructively to possible changes to GP’s plans. What we found, whether informed or misinformed, was a groundswell of opposition that suggested that GP should reconsider whether to proceed.”
Late last month, more than 200 people came to a special meeting of the village board, voicing their objections to the proposal in a four-hour long meeting that became contentious at times.
Neighbors said the plan for 325 truck parking stalls would bring increasing traffic to an already dangerous and congested portion of the road, as well as hurt property values, erode quality of life and threaten local wetland preserve areas.
A petition asking the village board to deny the application was signed by more than 1,800 people.
The site, which is owned by Collins Enterprises of Plainfield, remains for sale. The site is zoned for industrial use and has an assessed value of $186,485, according to Will County property tax records.
The owners of the unimproved land – which currently houses a truck parking facility and self storage – pays approximately $16,500 in taxes annually to local taxing districts.