By Brian Stanley
For the Bugle
Coming soon to the old truck stop — The Boulevard: A Joliet and Plainfield co-production.
A Costco is slated to anchor the 170-acre commercial project which will occupy the border between the towns along the northwestern edge of Route 30 and Interstate 55.
Earlier this month, Plainfield trustees unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with Joliet that will be necessary for the development.
(Photo by Brian Stanley)
A Clark Auto-Truck stop and 24-hour restaurant operated there for many years before closing in the late 90’s or early 2000’s.
The Plainfield Fire Department was allowed to destroy some structures for training but other buildings remain standing.
Plainfield and Joliet began talking about an intergovernmental agreement in 2007.
“Due to the recession and lack of any real progress from the commercial development sector, these discussions were put on hold,” Plainfield Economic Development Manager Jake Melrose told the board. “The Boulevard project has since been rejuvenated with the major anchor, Costco Wholesale, pursuing the site.”
Joliet’s footprint includes the front 21 acres of the property, which runs along almost all of the frontage of Route 30. Of the 31 buildings shown in the site plan submitted for the Boulevard, 10 are in Joliet – a 48,000 square-foot on its own toward the east and a cluster of buildings between 4,000 and 16,000 square-feet near the center.
Costco’s 152,000 square-foot building close to I-55 would be located in Plainfield, but all of their parking lot would be in seven acres of Joliet.
Under the agreement, Joliet and Plainfield would need the other’s approval for land use projects outside the existing zoning districts. Each town is responsible for development in their border but must share plans and allow suggestions from the other.
Plainfield will provide water, sanitary sewer and stormwater sewer to the project and collect all tap-on fees. Replacing Joliet’s existing sewer and water to the site with the sizes needed would require going under the interstate and be cost-prohibitive, according to Melrose.
Village Boulevard, the 3/4-mile road coming off Route 30 into the Boulevard, will have snow removal and lighting replacement performed by Plainfield and reconstruction and resurfacing done by Joliet. Plainfield police and fire will respond to calls at the development with Joliet services available for mutual aid.
With the intergovernmental agreement in place, the developer can seek project approval and public feedback will be sought.