'Strong Opposition' In Burr Ridge To Developer's Plan

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge residents near an industrial site expressed concern this week about truck traffic that they said would result from its redevelopment.

The developer, Bridge Industrial, commissioned a traffic study that said the development would result in 300 industrial truck trips a day.

Earlier this month, Bridge submitted its plan for the 110 acres at 6900 Veterans Boulevard. The current owner, CNH Industrial, is selling the property.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Mary Bradley, president of the homeowners subdivision for the nearby Carriage Way subdivision, said she wanted to keep an open mind until the developer released a final version of its plan.

But she said she feared the development would clog up County Line Road with congestion and pollution. She urged the village to examine the plan with a "discerning eye" and not be swayed by the "glitz of glass windows" and extra green space, among other things.

Another Carriage Way resident, Steve Patterson, said the subdivision conducted a straw poll of 42 of the 82 single-family households in the neighborhood. By his count, 41 were opposed to Bridge's plan for the site, while the remaining person was neutral, seeking more information.

"There is really strong opposition to what is being described as a light industrial project," Patterson said.

He said the plan includes too many loading docks for such a development.

A third resident, Ericka Polanco Webb, who lives on Heather Drive, said she has an open mind about the project. At the same time, Polanco Webb, a Gower School District 62 member, asked village officials to consider the needs of families with children.

Among other things, she said, Burr Ridge still lacks a dog park.

Later in Monday's meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso said the more feedback that the village gets on Bridge's plan, the better.

"Of course, people are going to jump to conclusions as I think you've already seen as to what it is or what it isn't without hearing everything," Grasso said.

Bridge is proposing a mix of townhomes, industrial buildings and a new village public works building. A Costco was considered, but the idea was pulled after neighbors' opposition.

The village's Plan Commission is set to review Bridge's application April 15.