Oswego planning commission approves two water receiving stations, fitness studio and church permits; recommends denial of Plainfield–Woolly gas station

The Oswego Public Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 19 recommended approval for multiple development and zoning requests — including two water receiving stations, a downtown fitness center and a church parking arrangement — and voted to recommend that the village board not accept a proposed gas station at Plainfield Road and Woolly Road.

Commissioners front‑loaded approvals for utilities: the panel recommended approval of a special‑use permit and a final Planned Unit Development for a Lake Michigan water receiving station at 700 Cole Avenue (Well House No. 10) and, separately, recommended approval of a major PUD amendment and special use for a receiving station at 6701 Tuscany Trail (Well House No. 11). Staff said each site will add a meter/metering station (20-by-30 feet at Cole; 20-by-38 feet at Tuscany Trail), keep the existing well house in place and install an 8‑foot “climb‑proof” fence and landscaping to meet zoning. Utility supervisor Michael Gunter told the commission the new stations will meet security standards; he said he did not have final lighting plans that evening. Petitioner and staff presentations preceded unanimous roll‑call votes in favor of the two receiving‑station projects.

The commission also approved a special‑use permit for Terminator Fitness LLC to open a roughly 2,250‑square‑foot education‑based group‑training gym at 174 South Harrison Street. Owner Brian Nader said the business will operate group classes, private training and an app‑based scheduling platform. The approval is conditioned on the property owner annexing and fully connecting the building to Fox Metro Water Reclamation District before the business can open; staff told commissioners the building is currently on septic and that Fox Metro has been engaged about connection timing.

Crossroads Restoration Church (doing business as Bridal Life Church) received a special‑use permit to convert 254 South Madison Street into a place of worship with associated off‑site parking at 27 East Benton Street. Staff recommended approval after petitioners agreed to re‑stripe the off‑site lot to provide a minimum of 23 parking spaces and install wheel stops; the commission approved the application on a roll‑call vote.

The commission faced extended public comment on a proposed gas station and convenience/quick‑serve site on a roughly 3.5‑acre parcel at Plainfield Road and Woolly Road (project 1253.205). Project representatives described a plan for multiple fuel dispensers, a convenience store with a drive‑through coffee/quick service lane and site access coordinated with adjacent Stonehill properties. Dozens of residents spoke against the plan, citing proximity to Prairie Point Community Park and nearby schools, pedestrian and school‑traffic safety, stormwater concerns and potential spills and noise. Property owner and neighborhood representatives asked the applicant to coordinate access with adjacent Stonehill parcel owners.

After discussion of circulation, cross‑access and stormwater, the commission voted to recommend that the village board not accept the gas station application. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote; commissioners cited unresolved circulation and pedestrian‑safety issues and strong neighborhood opposition in their discussion.

Land‑use and subdivision items advanced: the commission approved an amendment and preliminary/final PUD and plat for Hummel Trails Neighborhood 11 (revising a prior townhome allocation to permit 172 townhomes plus 10 single‑family lots on the west side), and it recommended approval of Hummel Trails Neighborhoods 12 and 13 concept plan changes. The commission also recommended annexation and rezoning of the Polo Crossing property (to R‑3 and R‑4) and approved a preliminary PUD and subdivision plat for Polo Crossing; presenters described a multi‑product project with single‑family, “missing middle” products and townhomes and listed developer proffers and fee estimates (transportation impact fee and water connection fees among them). The commission’s positive recommendation for Polo Crossing will go to the village board for final action.

Why it matters: the decisions move infrastructure for Lake Michigan water delivery forward, clear small‑business reuse in the downtown and advance several large residential projects that will affect road widening, stormwater management and school and park‑district planning. The recommendation to deny the Plainfield–Woolly gas station sends the contested proposal to the village board with a negative commission recommendation and a record of extended public comment.

Votes at a glance - Well House No. 10, 700 Cole Ave (Final PUD and special use; project 1277.25): commission recommended approval, subject to final engineering approval. (Roll call: all commissioners present voted yes.) - Tuscany Trail receiving station, 6701 Tuscany Trail (Major PUD amendment and special use; project 1278.25): commission recommended approval, subject to final engineering approval. (Roll call: all commissioners present voted yes.) - Terminator Fitness LLC, 174 S. Harrison St. (special‑use permit for indoor recreation; project 1272.25): commission recommended approval; condition requires the property owner to annex and fully connect to Fox Metro Water Reclamation District prior to opening. (Roll call: all commissioners present voted yes.) - Bridal Life Church, 254 S. Madison St. (special‑use permit for place of worship and off‑site parking at 27 E. Benton St.): commission recommended approval conditioned on striping and wheel stops to provide a minimum of 23 spaces. (Roll call: all commissioners present voted yes.) - Plainfield & Woolly gas station (preliminary & final PUD and plat; project 1253.205): commission voted to recommend that the village board not accept the application (i.e., recommended denial). Commissioners and staff cited unresolved circulation, cross‑access coordination with Stonehill and pedestrian‑safety concerns; speakers raised traffic and environmental concerns. (Roll call: majority voted to recommend denial.) - Hummel Trails Neighborhood 11 (amendment to concept plan; preliminary & final PUD and plat; project 1275.25): commission recommended approval of the amendment and PUD/plat to permit revised mix of townhomes and single‑family lots. (Roll call: motion carried.) - Polo Crossing (annexation, rezoning to R‑3/R‑4 and preliminary PUD & plat; project 1274.25): commission recommended approval of the rezoning upon annexation and recommended approval of the preliminary PUD and plat. Presenters described 320 total units (reported as ~120 single‑family plus ~200 attached units) and noted developer dedications and estimated cash equivalents (village transportation and water fees, park and school land or cash, and other impact fees). The recommendation advances the project to village‑board review. (Roll call: motion carried.) - Hummel Trails Neighborhoods 12 & 13 (concept plan amendment): commission recommended approval. (Roll call: motion carried.)

Discussion highlights and next steps - Water infrastructure: utility staff and applicants said the receiving stations will be meter/control points to accept Lake Michigan water into the village system; there will be no new above‑ground storage tanks at the Cole Avenue site. Final engineering and lighting details were left to subsequent approvals. - Downtown reuse and Fox Metro connection: staff told the commission the Terminator Fitness site must connect to Fox Metro before opening; the building is currently on septic and the owner has initiated annexation/connection steps. - Traffic and access: the commission repeatedly asked applicants to coordinate cross‑access and turn‑lane work with neighboring property owners and Kendall County (Plainfield Road is a county highway). The Stonehill neighborhood and other adjacent owners asked the gas‑station applicant to resolve cross‑access and parcel boundary issues before village‑board consideration; commissioners expressed concern about the site’s internal circulation and the proposed drive‑through lane configuration. - Stormwater: multiple speakers raised existing flooding concerns near Hummel/nearby farm fields. Engineers for the projects said detention basins will be sized to village standards and that some low spots will be reshaped and tied into detention; commissioners and residents requested continued coordination on downstream tile/ditch condition and on preserving or improving existing drainage patterns.

What’s next: items with positive commission recommendations (water stations, fitness permit, church permit, Polo Crossing, Hummel Trails amendments) will be transmitted to the village board for final action. The Plainfield–Woolly gas station application will go to the village board with a negative planning commission recommendation and the record of public comment. Staff and applicants will return to the commission or village board as required with final engineering, signage, lighting, stormwater and annexation details.

Sources and attribution Presenters, petitioners and officials who spoke at the public hearing and are quoted or summarized here include Utility Supervisor Michael Gunter; project presenters and petitioners Brian Nader (Terminator Fitness), Gregory Zolmec (gas‑station representative), John McFarland (Lennar), Carrie Hansen (Shopee Design Associates, Polo Crossing), Chris Lindley (civil engineer, Semcon) and Pastor Robert Rosato (Bridal Life Church). Dozens of residents spoke in public comment, including Lisa Liduski, Tim Kellogg, Charles Rook, Ingo Deinos, James Altergot, Donna Sawicki, Bill Darby, Cheryl Todd and Robin Cook. Staff references include village planning staff and engineering staff (presenters identified in the record). Direct quotations in this article are from the hearing transcript and are attributed to the listed speakers.