Essington Road Used Car Dealership Faces Rejection

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet City Council is being asked to reject a proposal to turn the Super Wash property at 1900 Essington Road into a used car dealership at Tuesday night's meeting. Some area residents want the council to deny the special use permit because they fear the addition of another car dealership would be detrimental to Chignoli Auto Sales, 1850 Essington Road.

"Let me start by saying, Essington Road doesn't need another car sales facility," Thomas Hickey Avenue resident Walter Longfield wrote city officials. "Chignoli auto sales offers, as their website states, quality luxury used cars at great prices. A different owner may want to sell low-end vehicles. I don't wish to take that chance. When I drive east on Thomas Hickey Ave. at that corner of Essington, the cars offered by Chignoli are my kind of cars. I don't want to drive by junk vehicles."

Longfield informed city officials that "I am against this proposal. Another car sales facility would increase traffic in the neighborhood, with people doing test drives. When the weather is nice there are many children outside playing. I am concerned with the increased traffic that someone could get hurt. I am also concerned about having a retail car facility next to a daycare. Plenty of reasons to worry about the children when mistakes are made."

According to city documents, Bujar “Bob” Shabani is the contract purchaser for the Super Wash property.

If approved, his used car dealership at 1900 Essington Road would be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. His business will be closed Sundays and intends to employ four.

Shabani operates an existing used car dealership at 201 N.Center St., 1st Choice Auto Sales in Joliet, which will remain in operation, city documents show.

"The administration concurs with the recommendation of the zoning board of appeals and recommends the mayor and city council deny the request for a special use permit to allow a used car sales facility at 1900 Essington Road by adopting the attached resolution," interim city manager Steve Jones wrote the council.