Residents press safety concerns as board reviews patio restaurant for Route 30 and Prairie

The Village of New Lennox planning staff presented plans for a proposed 9,233‑square‑foot restaurant with a 719‑square‑foot outdoor patio and a drive‑thru at the southwest corner of US Route 30 and Prairie Road. The plan commission recommended approval of the special use for preliminary and final PD plat, subject to final engineering and landscaping, and staff sought board input at the meeting.

Jeff (village staff) described the site plan and access: two points of access from Haven Avenue, an eastern curb cut that would be entrance‑only because of its proximity to Prairie Road, and the removal of the Route 30 curb cut to reduce conflicts. Staff identified stormwater detention at the northwest corner, retaining walls along Route 30 due to grade changes, and recommended a continuous row of 6‑foot juniper evergreens along the south perimeter to screen headlights and reduce drive‑thru noise. He also said the plan commission supported requested zoning deviations and that the applicant agreed to change a rear wall sign from internally illuminated to indirectly lit and to turn perimeter lights off at least one hour after closing.

The petitioner, Steve Kolopoulos, told the board: "We're really excited about coming. We're a family business…we want to serve good people great food." He and staff said the site presented engineering challenges but that design changes had been made to address concerns.

Several residents spoke during the public comment period and urged caution. Bob Bodana (791 Wildwood Drive) said he liked the restaurant but worried about safety at the east entrance off Prairie Road and asked whether a dedicated right‑turn lane or shifting the curb cut could be considered: "I would if there was a way to make a dedicated right‑hand turn lane there or move the far east entrance over one or two car lengths if that's possible." Staff replied the east access had been limited to right‑in only and the developer removed the Route 30 access at the state's request to reduce curb cuts.

Lori Lindberg (210 S. Prairie Road) raised similar concerns about parking and sightlines: she described vehicles backing into parking stalls and stacking on Haven Avenue, and asked about a west perimeter buffer adjacent to a church and the fate of a notable mulberry specimen tree on site. In response, staff and the petitioner said the plan includes substantial landscape screening and that they would attempt to preserve the mulberry tree if feasible.

Board members discussed technical mitigations. Trustees noted the applicant requested reduced parking stall dimensions (9×18 feet) that the village has approved for similar service uses; staff said a fire‑truck turning study met access requirements with minor curb adjustments. Mayor Balderman and other trustees framed the project in the context of the village's comprehensive plan and an upcoming roundabout at Seed and Haven, which staff and the mayor said should help traffic flow and mitigate congestion near the site. "We've made changes to address that and we as a village made changes to address that even prior to you coming by doing what we're doing with the roundabout," the mayor said.

The plan commission's recommendation and the board's discussion do not replace required final engineering and landscaping approvals; staff emphasized outstanding technical details remain to be finalized if the board moves forward. The village did not vote on final approval of a special use or the final plat at this meeting; the item was presented for input and a first reading of the ordinance was on the agenda.

Next steps: staff will continue to coordinate final engineering, landscape design and sign/lighting conditions with the applicant and public safety review teams before returning any final ordinance or plat for board action.