Committee Approves Truck Terminal Special Use Permit After Safety Modifications

JOLIET — The Will County Land Use and Development Committee voted Thursday to approve a special use permit for a truck terminal in New Lenox Township, after the applicant made modifications to address traffic safety concerns that had previously led to a denial recommendation.

The committee voted 5-1 to approve the special use permit for Litmax Multi-Service Inc., which plans to build a truck maintenance, repair and logistics facility at 22645 Cherry Hill Road in Joliet. The proposal will now advance to the full county board for final consideration.

The project had previously received a 0-7 denial recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission due to concerns about traffic safety at the intersection of Cherry Hill Road and U.S. Route 52 (Manhattan Road).

“Out of all the special use permit factors, they were all found in favor of the proposed use except for the staff had an issue with the access,” said Vince Tessatore, attorney for the applicant. “We addressed it by limiting the existing full access point to a limited access point, a right-in right-out with a pork chop to be added, and then we actually also have a stop sign for the right-out portion.”

The traffic safety modifications were made in consultation with the Will County Department of Transportation, which preferred the “pork chop” traffic control design to restrict left turns from the property onto Cherry Hill Road.

Margarite Walters from the county’s Land Use Department explained that the 10-acre property is already zoned I-2 (industrial), meaning some truck operations would be permitted regardless of the special use permit decision.

“By denying the special use, it would not stop the trucks from this area, but it would limit the intensity of the truck operations,” Walters said. “The trucking, logistics, repair and the parking occurring from the site is what triggers the truck terminal and the special use.”

According to Walters, about 109 trucks could be parked on the site according to the plans, though Tessatore clarified that the facility would primarily be a truck maintenance operation that would generate only 10 to 15 vehicle trips per day.

The special use permit approval includes four conditions recommended by county staff to help mitigate potential adverse impacts. These conditions include allowing county inspections with 14 days’ notice, ensuring proper waste disposal procedures, working with transportation officials to minimize dangers to the public right-of-way, and complying with resource recovery and energy requirements.

Specific regulations for tire storage and disposal, prohibition of open dumping, requirements for indoor repair and maintenance, proper storage of automotive fluids, and spill response procedures were also included in the conditions.

Committee member Don Bullock raised concerns about the intersection’s traffic safety, noting that when Interstate 80 experiences accidents, traffic often diverts through the area. Tessatore assured the committee that their traffic study indicated the modified entrance would not have a negative impact on traffic flow.

Walters noted that the applicant would still be required to obtain an amended access permit from the Department of Transportation as part of the site development process.