Protest Parade, Hearing Set For NorthPoint

ELWOOD, IL — A developer's controversial proposal to build a $1.2 billion, 2,200 acre business park in Elwood will once again go before the planning and zoning commission on Thursday, but not before a planned protest against the project. A group of farmers and veterans are slated to host a protest parade Thursday afternoon against the project, which has drawn vocal opposition from a grassroots "Just Say No To NorthPoint" group.

NorthPoint Development calls the project a "warehousing, distribution and light manufacturing park," adding "Early projections by NorthPoint show the potential for 15,000 jobs upon completion of the park with 1,200 to 1,600 construction jobs while the park is built out in phases over an approximately 10-year span."

But the proposal has drawn criticism from Just Say No To NorthPoint, who say it would take "2,200 acres of prime farmland in our area and replace it with a massive industrial warehouse complex. This complex is being proposed at a time when Will County is suffering from an astronomical growth in trucking and warehouse development that is straining an already decrepit and ill-maintained roadway system."

The protest parade is slated to kick off at noon Thursday.

"Despite recent freezing temperatures, farmers and veterans have undergone the arduous task to bringing out farm equipment and military vehicles from winter storage in an effort to demonstrate to Elwood Village officials and NorthPoint Development that their machinery needs to be a factor in deciding the fate of the agriculture community and the proposed 2200-acre Compass Business Park," according to a press release from local activists. "Village officials have been invited to attend."

The parade will take place in Jackson Township, between the villages of Elwood and Manhattan, according to the release:

Approximately 12 expansive farm vehicles and two military trucks are expected, along with an unknown amount of cars, pickup trucks and vans," according to a press release from local activists. "The farm and military vehicles are lining up on Coldwater Road facing north toward Mississippi, and will be first in the parade. The remaining public will line up along Chicago Road facing toward Mississippi Road. Line up is 11:30 (a.m.), and step off is at noon. ... Vehicles will travel west along Mississippi Road to Route 53, turn left/south onto 53, then turn left/east onto Hoff Road, then turn left/north onto Ridge Road, then turn left/west onto Manhattan Road. Parade will then turn left/south back onto 53, after which vehicles will return home.

The planning and zoning commission met in December to consider NorthPoint's request to rezone more than 850 acres of land, of which about 175 acres are currently in Elwood, and annex about 675 acres. A standing-room-only crowd — and hundreds more waiting outside — attended the meeting, which was adjourned to be reconvened at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Elwood School, 409 N. Chicago Ave.

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