Commission Approves Massive Lake Michigan Water Infrastructure Project for Troy Township

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | May 5, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on May 5, 2026, unanimously approved two major public utility requests and associated fence variances to facilitate the construction of regional water storage and pumping facilities. The 40-acre development at Black Road and County Line Road is a critical component of a $1.446 billion initiative to deliver Lake Michigan water to six Will County municipalities by 2030.

Water Infrastructure Key Points:

• Project Scope: The development includes a 1.5 million-gallon “spheroid” elevated storage tank standing 145 feet tall, a pump station, and a public works garage.

• Dual Ownership: The site is divided into two 20-acre parcels—one owned by the Grand Prairie Water Commission (ZC-26-019) and one by the City of Joliet (ZC-26-018).

• Regional Impact: The facilities will serve 250,000 residents across Joliet, Shorewood, Crest Hill, Channahon, Minooka, and Romeoville.

• Security Measures: Both parcels were granted variances to install 8-foot-tall security fences (7-foot chain link with 1 foot of barbed wire), exceeding the standard 7-foot limit for the A-1 district.

JOLIET — A massive regional effort to secure a sustainable water supply for Will County took a significant step forward Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as the Planning and Zoning Commission cleared the way for the Grand Prairie Water Commission (GPWC) and the City of Joliet to begin developing a critical infrastructure hub in Troy Township.

The two related cases, ZC-26-018 and ZC-26-019, involve adjacent vacant properties located at the southeast corner of Black Road and County Line Road. The project is born of necessity; Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities for Joliet, testified that the region’s existing deep aquifer is failing and will be unable to meet maximum demand by 2030.

“We selectioned purchasing water from the City of Chicago as the most sustainable and reliable option,” Swisher told the commission. “The majority of this project will serve Will County residents.”

Site Specifics and Security
The GPWC parcel (ZC-26-019) will house the project’s second intermediate storage facility, featuring a 1.5 million-gallon steel tank. The City of Joliet’s neighboring parcel (ZC-26-018) will include additional water storage tanks, a public works garage, and an outdoor storage yard.

Because of the “critical” nature of the water supply, the applicants requested variances to allow for 8-foot-tall fencing topped with barbed wire for security. Staff recommended approval, noting that while the area remains primarily agricultural, it is slated for future residential growth that requires this infrastructure.

Commissioner John Kiefner questioned why the properties were not being annexed into Joliet. Swisher responded that while annexation is likely in the future, the commission needs to begin construction immediately to meet the 2030 deadline for water delivery.

The commission approved the Special Use Permits and the fence variances for both parcels without a single dissenting vote.