By Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff
A controversial plan to create a semitruck parking lot along Route 30 in Plainfield has landed back before village officials.
On Nov. 6, representatives from Dayfield Properties came before the board with a proposal to create a 124-space truck parking lot behind the Plainfield Business Park on U.S. 30 near 135th Street.
It’s the second time the issue has come for approval, following major public outcry against the lot this past summer.
“This case was previously considered by the plan commission as a temporary use, and at that time it was identified for special use consideration,” Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx said. “The site plan review was not required because it was proposed as a temporary use… The applicant has since revised and reformulated the proposal based on input by the plan commission and the village board, to identify a long-term plan for the property.”
The industrial site is slated for retail/commercial development. But the owner, Clayton Olsen and Dayfield Properties, are looking to create a parking lot for local big rig drivers who need a spot for their trucks while they’re off the clock.
“The intention here is to provide a place for local truck drivers, people who live in Plainfield and the area to park their trucks, and (take) their personal vehicles to their homes,” Proulx said.
During the summer, village officials noticed that the lot was already being utilized for rented truck parking. The village challenged Dayfield Properties, arguing that a site plan is needed before the area could be used for such a purpose. The village sent Dayfield Properties a cease and desist order, forcing them to have the rental trucks out of the area by late August.
Now, the proposal is back with a new plan for a paved lot with landscaping.
Neighbors in nearby Harvest Glen came back with their objections, mirroring similar issues they had over the summer with the proposal, including increased traffic, pollution, noise, security concerns, diminished property values, and the possibility of increased crime in the area.
Nearby resident Guy Thomas told the commissioners that neighbors were concerned that truckers could use the spot for overnight lodging inside their vehicles.
“If you’re going to have a rule that people can’t spend the night, you’re going to have to have security there,” Thomas said.
Dayfield representatives said the intent for the lot is solely for trucks to park overnight when the drivers are at home, and for the drivers to keep their cars there when on a run.
“Overnight stays in trucks is prohibited,” said Vincent Rosanova, an attorney representing Dayfield Properties. “We have a register as well as background checks of all the trucks that are renting the space there. If we got notification that one of the truck drivers is spending the night in the cab, we have management that would go out there and alleviate that situation. We also have data on our drivers as well, the overwhelming majority of them are from Plainfield. The ones that aren’t from Plainfield are from Naperville, Romeoville, Joliet, Aurora, surrounding communities. We think it would be highly unlikely that we would have that problem, when the driver is parking there so they can be in close proximity to their home and go home and spend the night.”
Trustee Edward O’Rourke also took part in the public comment portion, asking about the site plan and how neighboring properties will be protected and shielded from noise, as well as seeking information about further plans at the site.
Plan Commission did not recommend bringing the issue full the full board, citing similar concerns as residents. That failed recommendation doesn’t kill the issue, however. The applicant indicated that they still planned to present the plan to the full board of trustees at a later date.