Will County approves special-use for Cedar Road landscape business with berm, setback and traffic study conditions

Will County’s board voted Feb. 19 to approve a special-use permit allowing a landscape business at 17958 S. Cedar Road near Bruce Road, approving conditions intended to mitigate impacts on nearby homeowners.

Homer Township Supervisor Sue Styling and neighbors described a history of crashes in the two-curve stretch where the business would locate and urged denial until a traffic and site study addressed safety concerns. John and Jennifer Fife, neighbors building a home adjacent to the proposed facility, said they were concerned about diesel exhaust, heavy truck traffic and the proximity of proposed material storage to their residence.

Applicant counsel Richard Kavanaugh said the project team would install a six-foot berm and evergreen plantings along the southern property line adjoining the neighbor, and that a traffic impact study was already contracted for and would be completed as a condition. Land-use staff explained the berm design requirements (roughly a 3:1 base ratio and a five-foot planting top) and confirmed a 50-foot setback requirement from property lines for the operation, and said county inspections and conditions would govern operations.

During debate, several board members said the Cedar/Bruce curves are dangerous and suggested transportation staff pursue speed-limit reviews or roadway improvements; county transportation staff said a corridor reconstruction is in the county's 2050 plan but would take years and that staff will conduct an independent speed study. The board approved ORD26-028 with the stated buffering conditions.

The permit includes a required berm and evergreen buffer, setbacks and a traffic study; land-use staff said the applicant could add fencing if desired for additional security. Board members said they would follow up with the transportation department about near-term safety measures at the intersection independent of the land-use decision.