Developer's Plan May Cost Burr Ridge $100K In Consultants

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge may spend up to $100,000 on consultants to handle a developer's request for a major commercial complex.

On Monday, the Village Board gave its staff spending authority for hiring consultants to review Bridge Industrial's zoning request for the old CNH Industrial site, 6900 Veterans Boulevard.

That money includes spending on the Kimley-Horn engineering firm, which the village said it has hired as its main consultant.

"We want that spending authority, so that we could, at a moment's notice, hire an additional consultant to perform whatever review or task was necessary," Village Administrator Evan Walter said.

The village had planned for the first public hearing to be held Nov. 18. But that may not happen.

"Nov. 18 is the earliest we felt we could do it," Walter said. "I think at this point it's very likely it could be delayed just based on the size of the petition."

Under Bridge's plan, the old CNH complex would be demolished and replaced with seven new industrial buildings.

In its plan, Bridge promises open space in the northern part of the 110-acre site. That is near houses in the Fieldstone subdivision.

Also in the plan is the building of a village public works facility on the southern part of the site, the village said.

Neighbors have expressed concerns with the plan, including about truck traffic and stormwater.

During public comments at Monday's meeting, Ingrid Tepler, who lives in the 6900 block of Fieldstone Drive, indicated Bridge's plan may bring more traffic than projected because of its requests for special permitted uses.

In response, Mayor Gary Grasso said the majority of Bridge's requests for special permits signal the development may be more intensive than light industrial.

He promised the village would look out for the best interests of residents, not Bridge.

Burr Ridge announced late last month that Bridge submitted its detailed plan.