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Hinsdale board ratifies as-built bollards at Fuller's, removes decorative wall requirement
Summary
The Hinsdale Village Board approved a major adjustment recognizing the installed heavy-duty bollards at Fuller's Car Wash and removed a previously required decorative brick wall after engineers raised safety concerns; temporary Jersey barriers remain while staff works with property representatives to find a permanent solution.
The Hinsdale Village Board on May 13 approved a major adjustment to the site plan for Fuller's Car Wash at 102 W. Chicago Ave., formally recognizing the stronger bollards installed last year and removing a previously required decorative brick wall after engineers raised safety concerns.
The action matters because it changes the development obligations tied to the 2024 site plan approval and acknowledges a retrofit installed to meet a specified vehicle-impact performance standard intended to protect pedestrians and nearby properties.
Village President Greg Hart summarized the board’s rationale at the meeting, saying the adjustment “recognizes and approves the design of those stronger bollards” and that the decorative wall requirement was removed “based solely on credible safety concerns.” Hart emphasized that “the fact that the Fuller's are in bankruptcy does not factor into this decision.”
Hart and staff said the installed bollards were confirmed to meet a performance standard described during the meeting as able to stop a 5,000-pound vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour; the stronger bollards were installed on Aug. 9, 2024. Engineers for nearby property owners (identified in the record as the Richards family) and village consultants flagged the wall as potentially posing a public-safety hazard, prompting the board’s change to the approved site plan. Village officials also noted temporary Jersey barriers are in place along the Chicago Avenue and Lincoln Street frontages and will remain until a permanent solution is identified.
The board's motion waived the first reading and approved an ordinance accepting the site’s as-built conditions. Trustees voted aye on the measure during roll call; the clerk recorded the motion as approved. During the discussion, Hart directed village staff to coordinate with representatives of Fuller's and the bankruptcy trustees to identify and implement an appropriate permanent frontage solution.
No public comment was taken on this agenda item during the meeting. The board and staff said they would continue to enforce village code and pursue any safety-related remedies necessary consistent with legal process and public-safety findings.
Background and next steps: the village had previously approved an exterior appearance and site plan permitting bollards and a decorative brick wall as separate elements; months of engagement with the Richards family, Fuller's representatives and engineering consultants led to the stronger bollard installation and the removal of the wall requirement. Village staff will work with Fuller's representatives and the bankruptcy trustees on a permanent barrier or streetscape treatment for the Chicago Avenue and Lincoln Street frontages.
The ordinance approving the as-built conditions takes effect per village ordinance procedures; the village indicated it would continue to monitor safety along the site frontages and enforce code consistently.
