Joliet Annexation Means More Huge Warehouses For Elwood

JOLIET, IL - For more than an hour Tuesday night, one resident of Elwood after another addressed the Joliet City Council. They begged Joliet's elected officials to reject a proposed annexation of 138.5 acres of farmland at Route 53 and Breen Road. Later on, the Elwood residents spilled out of the Joliet City Hall angry and dejected. Joliet's council voted in favor of the annexation.

The homeowners had argued that their homes would be surrounded by gigantic concrete warehouses that would ruin their way of life as they know it. They implored Joliet's council to stop adding more warehouses and heavy truck traffic to their subdivision. The Elwood area residents were joined by a powerful political voice who spoke on their behalf, Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

Walsh identified himself as a 69-year-long resident of Jackson Township. He told Joliet's council he is usually a champion of growth and new business developments, but not in this case.

"If, if, it's in the right place," Walsh said. "And this request is not in the right place ... This is not right for our area. I ask you to not approve of this proposal. Thank you."

Before the vote, at least 20 people stepped up to the podium and gave emotional pleas, arguing that Joliet needed to put their interests first. Several people talked about moving out to Elwood because they liked the peace and quiet and how they loved the rural character of the area.

After a while, though, the crowd became repetitive. Joliet council's agenda already had a full plate and the meeting kept dragging on as resident after resident essentially echoed each other's sentiments.

In the end, the Joliet City Council voted 5-3 in favor of annexing the 138.5 acres. Afterward, a couple of residents began shouting at the Joliet politicians who voted in favor of the annexation. At that point, a couple uniformed Joliet police officers who were assigned to the meeting to maintain order went into the crowd to make sure the tensions did not escalate.

The council members who supported the annexation were Bettye Gavin, John Gerl, Terry Morris, Jan Quillman and Larry Hug. The three who opposed the annexation were Mike Turk, Pat Mudron and Don "Duck" Dickinson.

Joliet real estate attorney Michael Hansen spoke on behalf of the land owner. He said the plans call for the construction of two separate million square foot warehouse buildings on the tract.

Hansen also reminded city council members, much to the disgust of the Elwood residents who packed the meeting, that the open land being targeted for annexation was no longer prime real estate for a residential subdivision.

"This is an industrial area ... a lot has happened in 10 years," Hansen said. "There is no market for residential in this area."

According to a memo given to the Joliet City Council, the 138.5 acre parcel of farmland is owned by the Smith Family and it's part of the Mary Smith Trust.

"The request is being made by the petitioners at this time in order to maximize the value of the subject site for a future sale," the memo indicated.

Image of Joliet real estate attorney Michael Hansen via city of Joliet website