Concerns Continue Over Proposed Elmhurst Warehouse

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst residents are still raising issues with a planned warehouse in the southwest part of town.

Last week, the city's zoning commission approved the building, which would consist of up to 28 truck docks.

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It would replace Clarion Inn on Riverside Drive, near Salt Creek Elementary School.

The proposal is to come before a City Council committee and then the full council itself. It is unclear when that will happen.

At Monday's council meeting, resident Mark Dattoli noted that the city's long-term plan for development mentioned that industrial uses exist on Riverside.

"That language does not necessarily support a massive spec warehouse, especially one situated at a school and a residential transition," Dattoli said. "Approving this facility because of general language ignores the specific danger of placing such an intensive use near the transitional boundaries."

Riverside Drive is one of Elmhurst's more unusual streets, which Patch reported on last month.

Dattoli also said the developer, Houston-based Alliance Industrial Co., portrays such things as paying taxes, reducing crime, cleaning up toxic soil and professionally managing buildings as "exceptional public amenities."

"But we see these as not exceptional at all," he said. "They are the cost of doing business."

Another resident, Laurie Buzzell, said the neighbors' group, Team Southwest, doesn't oppose development for the sake of opposing development.

"Our goal has been to encourage a careful review of a proposal that raises questions about land use, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, public benefit and the long-term effects within the Route 83 corridor, the community and nearby natural areas," she said.

Aldermen did not respond to the comments, following their policy.

During hearings, Alliance said it hadn't lined up any tenants yet for the warehouse, though it ruled out an ICE jail, a concern among some residents.

In their opposition, residents said they feared the possible noise and truck traffic from the warehouse.