NorthPoint: Joliet's Steve Jones Has Something To Say

JOLIET, IL — Interim city manager Steve Jones told Patch this week that Joliet will take a slow and careful approach as city staff weigh the pros and cons of the proposed NorthPoint development. If approved, the gigantic business park would be built on Joliet's southern border, near Elwood.

"We just need more details," Jones told Patch. On the plus side, the business development has the potential to generate tremendous additional revenue for the city of Joliet. A big industrial building, Jones said, tends to create new revenues that greatly exceed the cost of city services for fire, police and public works.

On the other hand, he said, the city will need to learn a lot more details about the traffic flow, particularly for Route 53. "Obviously, economic development is good," Jones said. "But we have to see the value, and how the transportation access is handled. Right now, it's a work in progress."

On Jan. 17, the Joliet City Council learned that the Kansas City-based NorthPoint developers want to move ahead with a $1.2 billion business park development in Joliet. NorthPoint filed a pre-annexation agreement with the city, the first step in the process toward gaining approval.

The NorthPoint project would encompass about 1,625 acres. The proposed development would go on land southeast of Route 53, city officials said.

"It's all farmland," Jones said.

The city of Joliet's Planning Commission meeting agenda for lists a public hearing under new business discussion for its next meeting, 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. The project concerns NorthPoint:

• An Agreement for 1,260 Acres with East Gate Logistics Park Chicago, LLC for Compass Business Park. (1/2 Mile South of Breen & East of Chicago Road)

Unlike Elwood, Joliet has already shown a willingness to work with NorthPoint.

Back in November, Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and Councilman Pat Mudron joined forces to approve a smaller scale NorthPoint project in a narrow 5-4 council vote.

At that time, Joliet approved the reclassification of 103 acres on the south side of Breen Road, a half-mile east of Rowell Avenue, to light industrial zoning.

Regarding the giant 1,625-acre business park, Jones told the council nearly two weeks ago that "this is far from a done deal."

Earlier this month, Jones also advised his city council that "they're asking for no incentives."

Furthermore, "we will be meeting with the village of Manhattan to be discussing this," Jones said at the most recent council meeting. "We have to get our head around this. It's no surprise what this project is. We've had several years of watching this" unfold with Elwood.

On Oct. 28, the Kansas City Business Journal published an article on NorthPoint headlined, "NorthPoint Starts Construction on Largest Industrial Building in KC."

The article included comments from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly saying: “I am so pleased by NorthPoint’s decision to make this strategic investment in the Sunflower State. Major developments like this are more proof of the many logistical advantages Kansas has to offer. Our state is proud to be the home of NorthPoint’s latest development.”

RELATED: Anti-NorthPoint Group Plans Manhattan Town Hall