[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471327,"mediaKeyId","5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c","parentId",5778136,"title","Residents urge commission to block proposed gas station annexation, cite well and traffic risks","audioSeconds",809,"startMs",2668000,"endMs",3477000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c&start=2668&end=3477","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c/thumbnail_2668000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471327/Lemont/Cook-County/Illinois/Residents-urge-commission-to-block-proposed-gas-station-annexation-cite-well-and-traffic-risks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471327-d7226e52050e6b4d4ce161f80dc9f1c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023608&Signature=aAK-e-WxCpbdl2GLv2L0VyIwDzh~tWJnVpTirXeY9ciwo01gYOV0aPkyW7yVlBAEL8X75m4vL8bXNJlOWM2Vvi6ZFDFm-b2p0udeykdsvN1W~fI2QNVdHCmiMP9nfM8gATNzf8kx8iMoH1Hkpw7g36SOzByaiu-mFbDV8y7Pfm6t579zzw9WqXbteAtiiOkPGxoT2tjzX9bt~H4Dmlhwot6vstgq5vUywnMVSqM6nfD-oOKxQPgRxGaSGotZGVqhHAHeEZrVtzi-0nC8PIbYWiErhJS0HcUm-14eFaFhKClldc4l5qze4blVMSmr~nLOCRBKVCiGYtZ0v-R3qv6kRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lemont","date","2025-09-03T18:30:00Z","article","Dozens of residents addressed the commission during audience participation to oppose a proposed annexation and rezoning that would enable a large gas station/truck stop on parcels adjacent to the Pleasantdale neighborhood.

Several speakers said petitions opposing the project have collected thousands of signatures; one resident told the commission there are “3 petitions … garnering 2,830 total signatures” urging officials to stop potential construction. Commenters said the proposed site is adjacent to family homes and that vehicle and truck traffic, illumination and noise would be incompatible with the neighborhood’s residential character.

Residents repeatedly raised concerns about groundwater and private wells. A speaker said she had contacted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and quoted agency guidance that homeowners should “preemptively track their wells for contamination as a not if, but when contamination will occur.” Speakers pointed to risks from routine spills and from leaking underground storage tanks as established pathways for groundwater contamination and asked the village to require well testing before any permitting or to deny rezoning for a gas station use.

Speakers noted traffic‑safety issues at the nearby I‑55/Lemont Road interchange and described narrow local access points used by school buses and children walking in a subdivision without sidewalks. They warned that increased ingress/egress and heavy trucks could create new hazards for schoolchildren and neighbors.

Several residents also raised concerns about the applicant and political influence. One commenter identified the prospective owner as Leonard (\"Lenny\") McHenry and said the business has made multiple campaign contributions in other jurisdictions; others urged the commission to consider ethical questions around donations and development approvals.

Speakers who addressed the commission included residents who said they represent the Pleasantdale neighborhood, local homeowners, and a DuPage County resident who said county officials had also expressed concern. The commission did not make a decision during audience participation; the comments were entered into the record for future land‑use reviews related to annexation and rezoning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lemont - Planning and Zoning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple Lemont residents told the planning commission they oppose a recent annexation/rezoning for a proposed gas station/truck stop associated with Lenny's Gas & Wash, raising petitions, groundwater contamination risk to private wells, traffic and safety concerns and alleged political influence.","taxTitle","Lemont, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",64369,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471330,"Commission recommends approval of Bosevic subdivision plat to consolidate three lots into two",187,2397000,2584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c&start=2397&end=2584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c/thumbnail_2397000.jpg","/articles/6471330/Lemont/Cook-County/Illinois/Commission-recommends-approval-of-Bosevic-subdivision-plat-to-consolidate-three-lots-into-two","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471330-55ea1b32ead1fdd9da35e31bec487e5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023608&Signature=MxgGBQJUHjb2Myz~P7r7SkuqpblNBSCgFG72o3RDDw7mzD~vV5X2IVop5ekOB7vX7HEAOMMmJz9JHl8~o566jLs4wwRRy1y6MmHFjuK7oA3wQ9hLNya~9Mwy0~4JaInNMlND9FZQBi1~fZKe3nU70Qw4FjgFM3CKzFDuprFPtbabntXucui7Dmjvy1I41hZRz8IOCGTjT6xYttO1s1Z4MQT1D9sHuBLEEvoY5kx3zERO2BzTGaS9U0U8oJ6S9o1eQJNyne0t-U99xo0~dXaX1Ahf7LnhaIuuWfMkdRv6b1uyFF-QGD04jlNa9kNNURJBCE3oLpEv45CzG8DbVXYNvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lemont Planning Commission recommended approval of a subdivision plat that will reconfigure three existing lots into two for property owned by the Bosevic family.

Planning staff described the proposal as a replat to consolidate three highlighted parcels into two lots; the file notes existing nonconformities that will remain after the replat. Staff recommended conditioning plat approval on comments from the village engineer and village attorney, including required signature blocks and technical corrections to the mylar.

The applicant’s attorney (representing the Bosevic family) provided letters acknowledging the existing nonconformities and stating the property owners accept the resulting conditions. The commission recommended approval of the plat with the village engineer/attorney comments as conditions.

The motion to recommend approval passed on a roll call that included affirmative responses from Connor, McLean, Cunningham and Stidbeck. Staff will return a finalized plat for the village board to record once checklist items and village‑engineer comments are addressed.","The Planning Commission recommended approval of a plat that would combine three existing lots into two on a property owned by the Bosevic family, conditioned on village engineer and attorney comments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471335,"Planning panel approves most UDO amendments; members exclude residential design standard changes",1504,2618000,4122000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c&start=2618&end=4122","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c/thumbnail_2618000.jpg","/articles/6471335/Lemont/Cook-County/Illinois/Planning-panel-approves-most-UDO-amendments-members-exclude-residential-design-standard-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471335-462138dd360b31c2a6371163e0033750/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023608&Signature=cGOALGw~OAh9XSB-pMF68VzPnsUv~nk2nnpr5ntwu1emTjX8BJZb2WKtJuntvm09S9akWyEJvnO-CHpQhECNc8KhaubIfrWRA-wmA74lrxExD8XjxmgxneNHLKtuy6l2HcvHiqKKjA94TN95DimIw~WfqJxePzQYQ8mNV~-MTc6yZffkiCDjedah5lvw90CWlfmx-SV0iRkvTEalhTiE69jOY8BkdBbbuJLYLK9SeskmmSaPS73eWrQWEjR5T~Vd2yuWLZTiTa1kMvyJHt22w0zrm6o3dU22TYoVDchNS6MZtYHl95ITcBF9D2aDRoklDCgHXoF89BUlYOzbSO1fIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lemont Planning Commission voted to approve a set of Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendments presented by planning staff, while excluding proposed updates to the residential design standards concerning allowable exterior materials.

Planning staff (Jamie) outlined a multi‑chapter update that included adding a definition for “contiguous,” clarifying how attached accessory structures should be regulated (noting that when two or more accessory structures are attached, the more restrictive standard should apply), exploring limited encroachments for attached roof structures into rear yard setbacks, and proposing engineering‑led updates for letter‑of‑credit reductions, as‑built digital delivery for GIS, LED lighting standards, and detention/basin design criteria including 100‑year inundation mapping.

On residential façade materials, staff presented options to modify or eliminate the current allowance of up to 33% vinyl siding on new construction and to prohibit vinyl as the primary exterior cladding in the historic district, while allowing limited decorative vinyl elements. Commissioners and staff discussed durability differences among vinyl, LP (engineered wood), and fiber cement products, and concerns that inconsistent treatment across PUDs and infill projects had created confusion.

After public and internal discussion the commission made a motion to approve the UDO amendments but to exclude the residential design standard changes from the package so they can be considered separately. Recorded responses during the roll call included “yes” votes from Wegley, O'Connor and Sue Baker; the chair called the motion carried.

The approved changes will move forward for ordinance preparation and will include the engineering updates, accessory structure clarifications, and the other non‑residential design items staff presented. The residential material standards will be returned to staff for further study and separate consideration by the commission.","The commission approved a package of Unified Development Ordinance updates including definitions, accessory-structure clarifications, engineering standards and wetland/detention mapping, but excluded proposed changes to residential design material standards after discussion.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471340,"Planning commission approves rezoning and parking variance for Lina Embroidery at 115 Warner Avenue",2186,150000,2336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c&start=150&end=2336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778136-4cd70191bed0c5b01b267d750d6caa6c/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6471340/Lemont/Cook-County/Illinois/Planning-commission-approves-rezoning-and-parking-variance-for-Lina-Embroidery-at-115-Warner-Avenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471340-8935510e06f9a3508e3f49d3a7995bbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023608&Signature=R3HV13TGtrc1JBD6DJ-AgFprm5QpJMKHkPQT2FFXkh083oks5GAChjPRB1QXOJ~4dj6e5DgklO1DjAZk3kTQl8g85vrYTWjnDbmRj8lbo86U4SUyWxXv029Ti7hVy8WrBKC3yB-r04rjx-A3ddsRESjE2B-~qRrm1moYa20xoyPDllkRrJsCCU4VtOAPgxe1FE63OxYk7snKPxLKSWwt2aKjqa6YAdFdG0vZO7DdUiDXBM3ldMjSw4syGMWLZo4S4GGIM9oEdLrJIHFGndnn975X7o0qLFwE6ijw6im6NPu7TyTbo7KkJsk3QFSS7eT2gO0JOqb3QSbpt~Nbo3PVcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lemont Planning Commission voted to approve a rezoning and accompanying parking variance for Lina Embroidery’s proposed move into a former township building at 115 Warner Avenue.

Planning staff said the application seeks to rezone the property from R6 (multifamily residential) to B1 (office/retail transitional) and to reduce the off‑street parking required under the village Unified Development Ordinance for the 5,000-square-foot building. Jamie, planning staff, told the commission the Lemont 2030 plan designates the parcel for mixed use and that a B1 designation would provide a transitional buffer between higher‑intensity commercial and adjacent residential zones.

Staff described the site as historically used by Lemont Township for government and community functions and said that the building was operated without on‑site parking, relying instead on on‑street spaces and an adjacent plaza parking lot. Under the UDO metric the building’s gross floor area would require roughly 20 parking spaces; the applicant has not secured a formal agreement to use spaces in the adjacent plaza and has explored adding about six to seven stalls on site if required. Jamie said the applicant reports a small on‑site staff (about six employees) and said customer visits are typically scheduled, which staff views as reducing the likelihood of peak, concurrent parking demand.

Attorney Al Damascus, representing Lina Embroidery, told the commission the business has operated in Lemont since 2006 and that the owner prefers not to be forced to obtain a permanent lease for plaza spaces as a condition of approval. He said the applicant will “continue our best efforts” to secure parking and has sought cost estimates to add on‑site stalls, but that a formal long‑term lease the plaza owner offered was cost‑prohibitive.

Several residents spoke in favor of allowing Lina Embroidery to remain in town. Casey Peters said, “I was out of there,” describing a quick customer pickup experience. Sarah Alvestad said the owner is “a stable business owner” and urged the commission to accommodate the business. Dave Wilkes, speaking from the audience, argued that buyers should be aware of parking limits, saying, “If you got a building and you're gonna buy a building and it don't have any parking spots, Don't make any sense to buy a building.”

Commission discussion focused on the separation of the rezoning vote from the variance (staff noted they can be processed as separate ordinances) and on potential conditions tying a parking variance to the current, specific business use so that a future, different B1 use would require re‑review. Jamie said the variance—unlike a zoning classification—can be conditioned and recommended that any approval tie parking relief to the applicant’s described business and include a plan to secure employee parking and accessible stalls.

The commission moved to approve the rezoning and parking variation as presented, incorporating staff’s recommended conditions. Recorded votes during the item were logged as “yes” by McLean, O'Connor, Cunningham and Stidbeck; the chair announced the motion approved.

Next steps: the village will finalize the ordinance language and any conditions, and the applicant may return if construction of on‑site parking is pursued or if a future use would require separate review.","The Lemont Planning Commission approved rezoning a former township building at 115 Warner Avenue from R6 multifamily to B1 office/retail and granted a parking variation to allow Lina Embroidery to occupy the 5,000-square-foot building while it pursues parking arrangements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge commission to block proposed gas station annexation, cite well and traffic risks

Commission recommends approval of Bosevic subdivision plat to consolidate three lots into two

Planning panel approves most UDO amendments; members exclude residential design standard changes

Planning commission approves rezoning and parking variance for Lina Embroidery at 115 Warner Avenue