Board approves county special-use for landscape business at Cedar and Bruce Roads with screening conditions

The New Lenox Village Board voted to not object to a county special-use request for a landscape business on a 17.3-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Cedar Road and Bruce Road after staff outlined recommended conditions.

Robin, presenting staff findings, said the petitioner proposes an 18,500-square-foot building that would include roughly 2,500 square feet of office space and about 16,000 square feet of storage for repair, maintenance and storage of vehicles and equipment. Staff recommended the county require paving of passenger-vehicle parking and screening of the outdoor storage area — including an 8-foot fence and landscaping — and noted the Planning Commission had recommended approval with those conditions.

The petitioner’s representative, Mr. Kavanaugh, told the board his client did not object to screening the bins and said the site will be bermed along Bruce Road and Cedar Road to a height of about 4 feet. Kavanaugh said much of the rear of the site will remain as gravel for drainage and plant-raising operations but that the client would not object to paving parts of the parking area.

Board members discussed staff concerns about gravel being carried onto the public street and the need to address stormwater. Robin said stormwater would need to be addressed but that staff did not feel it should prohibit hard-surfacing the outdoor storage area if the county requires appropriate controls.

Trustee Madsen moved and Trustee Scalise seconded the motion recommending the village not object contingent on staff’s recommended conditions; the motion passed by roll call.

The approval is recorded as a recommendation to the county with conditions the village asked the county to require; final permitting and any required paving or screening will be resolved through the county special-use process.