Tinley Park holds public hearing on proposed annexation of 71.9-acre parcel; residents raise fence, 24‑hour McDonald’s and library concerns

The Village of Tinley Park opened a public hearing at 6:16 p.m. at Village Hall to receive testimony on a draft annexation agreement that would annex 55.1 acres and create a 71.9‑acre parcel located near 7551 191st Street.

Residents and nearby property owners spoke at the hearing with questions and objections about how commercial development would affect their neighborhood. Jennifer Vargas, who lives at 7436 Ridgefield Lane, said she and neighbors are not opposed to development but asked that the project “fit into our community without disturbing our peaceful neighborhood,” and requested a 10‑foot fence on a berm to block noise, trash and views from the proposed commercial uses.

Amanda Kowalzi, director of the Frankfort Public Library District, said the parcel currently lies within the Frankfort library district and that annexation would shift tax revenue to Tinley Park. Kowalzi said the library board and trustees received certified notice of the hearing only one day before the meeting and asked for time to meet with legal counsel and prepare a formal response.

Other speakers raised traffic and late‑night activity concerns connected to proposed uses and nearby businesses. Pamela Maloney, of 19153 Westfield Avenue, said her property abuts the site planned for a McDonald’s and asked whether it would operate 24 hours. Jennifer Vargas and others said they had asked the mayor and staff whether franchisees were required by McDonald’s Corporation to operate 24 hours; Vargas said she contacted McDonald’s corporate and was told franchisees are not mandated to keep stores open 24 hours. Speakers also cited nearby commercial activity — including an existing Lenny’s Gas and Wash, a proposed sports dome and a Topgolf east of the site — and said that concert‑day traffic has already increased cut‑throughs into neighborhoods.

Developer and petitioner Larry Dabb addressed the audience, saying the project will include a landscape berm, trees and shrubs around the property and a fence with outside landscaping to provide “sound control and visual control” for nearby residents. Dabb said the team had a wildlife consultant review the site and that no bird nest was observed, but he acknowledged they could not guarantee 100% of trees would be preserved. He said the developer aims to break ground “late spring” and that about 30% of the property would be developed while the remaining 70% would remain undeveloped.

Village staff and trustees clarified procedure. Village counsel said the draft annexation agreement has been on file in the clerk’s office and the purpose of the hearing was to take public testimony about the draft agreement. Counsel also explained that different state statutory notices apply to annexation and to annexation agreements, and that the hearing did not constitute final annexation. Trustees said the item would not be voted on at that meeting and would be carried forward for further review; Trustee Brennan said the item would be tabled until the board’s January 21 meeting (and would appear on the Committee of the Whole agenda beforehand), giving residents additional opportunities to submit written comments or speak at that later meeting.

The board opened the hearing, received public comment from multiple residents and interest‑holders, heard a response from the developer, and then closed the public hearing. Staff and trustees told residents they could submit written materials to staff for distribution to the board and that further procedural steps and permit reviews would follow if the annexation proceeds.

The hearing record shows concerns the board may still address, chiefly: the library district boundary and notice to the Frankfort Public Library District; whether any McDonald’s at the site would operate 24 hours; the size and location of noise/visual buffers (residents requested a 10‑foot fence on a berm); traffic and cut‑through impacts linked to nearby entertainment venues; and environmental/wildlife questions tied to the wooded corners of the parcel.