Amazon Gets Green Light For Massive Retail Development In Orland Park

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park officials on Monday gave Amazon the go-ahead for a massive development at the corner of 159th and LaGrange Road.

The plan designed for the site of the shuttered Petey's II includes a one story, 229,000-square-foot building housing mostly retail, with a warehouse component to support on-site operations on the 35-acre parcel.

After clearing the Plan Commission with just one dissenting vote earlier this month, the proposal went before the committee of the whole and village board Monday, ultimately approved with a 5-2 vote. Mayor Jim Dodge voted in favor, along with trustees Michael Milani, Dina Lawrence, John Lawler and Joanna Leafblad. Trustees William Healy and Cynthia Katsenes voted it down.

Touted by Amazon representatives as "the first of its kind," the development will function as a large-format retail location offering a wide range of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with accessory services and potential prepared-food options. Plans also include multiple commercial outlots, officials said.

Residents previously aired concerns about the size and scale of the development, potential impacts on smaller businesses, an anticipated swell in traffic, and the need for the Village to carefully consider the long-term implications.

At the Jan. 6 Plan Commission meeting, attorney Katie Jahnke Dale of DLA Piper represented Amazon and spoke on the plan.

"We like to explain it as: 'It's the best that Amazon has to offer under Whole Foods, Fresh and their online offerings,'" Jahnke Dale said. "So what does that look like? It's a grocery store. But it's purpose-built for what we're seeing: retail customers demand today to provide a very safer experience for customers. As well as a more pleasant customer experience."

Jahnke Dale described shopping experiences that enable customers to shop in-person, enhanced by using their phone or an in-store kiosk to purchase items not easily located.

During the committee of the whole meeting Monday, Carol McGury pressed officials, questioning how much they know about the interior of the building and the business' overall functions.

"I can't believe you guys don't have anything that shows the inside," McGury said. "Like, this is supposed to be a cool, great, new concept. Even the business community didn't know about this cool, new concept that has no name. So I'm like, am I crazy? It still sounds like a warehouse to me...."

Watch the committee of the whole and village board meetings in the Youtube video below.

"... I know it's not a distribution center, I get that. But it's not all retail, and it's going to have a lot of vans, it's going to have a lot of cars, it's going to have a lot of traffic, and that's the challenge. ..."

McGury went on to say that the revenue Amazon would bring is welcome, but again questioned the functions of the business, urging officials to "slow this down.

"Show me the numbers," McGury challenged the committee. "Show me the details of the internals, because no one has seen that, and if you guys haven't seen it, and the plan commission hasn't seen it, I'm sorry, shame on you."

Orland Park resident Mohammed Jaber spoke in support of the project, noting the sales tax revenue it would bring to the area, as well as jobs. Jaber sits on the Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education; he is also a commissioner for the Orland Fire Protection District.

"If we don't secure this retail development, another nearby village will happily secure this type of business," Jaber said. "So I think it's important to get this type of retail business to Orland Park."

Trustee John Lawler said Orland Park was fortunate to have chosen for the project.

"Amazon could have chosen another community to go to," Lawler said. "They could have gone to a neighboring community. Orland Park is a really strong retail-oriented community. Our ability to maintain lower property taxes depends largely on the strength of our retail-driven tax base."

As part of the village’s ongoing planning for the 159th Street and LaGrange Road area, officials continue to evaluate the extension of Ravinia Avenue south to 161st Street, creating a direct connection to LaGrange Road while improving circulation throughout the corridor. Mayor Jim Dodge said extending Ravinia Avenue could ultimately divert a significant portion of eastbound and northbound turning traffic away from 159th Street and LaGrange Road.

Village officials have said that projected sales tax revenue from the development would "more than cover" the costs associated with the Ravinia Avenue expansion.

Orland Park will work with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Cook County on other necessary traffic improvements, including traffic signal replacement at 159th Street and 94th Avenue, and the addition of right- and left-turn lanes.

"... This is a wonderful opportunity," Trustee Joanna Leafblad said during the committee of the whole meeting. "And I want to reflect the notion of what a risk the mall was when it was first built. Who'd ever heard of such a thing?"

Leafblad called Amazon's proposal a "testament to the vitality and strength" of the retail environment in Orland Park.

"... We have trucks flying through Orland Park all the time. Look at all the stores we have. This isn't going to be new to Orland Park, that we have trucks delivering things. We know how to do this, and our staff has been working on this with Amazon for months.

"We have a wonderful opportunity here, not only to provide a new and innovative, and in my opinion, needed manner of shopping, but this is what we the consumers, have told businesses, that this is the way we like to do things. And Amazon's doing it for us, and they're doing it here in Orland Park. And they're spending their own money. They're not asking us for any concessions. None, whatsoever."

After the final vote Monday, Dodge thanked Amazon for coming to Orland Park.

"Welcome, and good luck," Dodge told those representing Amazon at Monday's meeting. "I think the entire town is rooting for you, would like you to be successful. I'm sure your competitors are going to step up, and give you guys a run for your money, but that'll keep Orland Park's retail healthy and dynamic. Appreciate you investing in Orland Park."