Will County panel advances Badger Inc. rezoning after hours of resident objections

The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4–3 May 19 to advance a map amendment that would allow Badger Inc. to build an office, dispatch center and inside truck storage on a 38‑acre parcel along 159th Street in Homer Township.

Staff recommended the rezoning from C2/R2 to C4, saying the request fits the county’s land‑use plan for the suburban communities development form and that the parcel is adjacent to existing commercial and industrial uses. Alec Van Patten, the county planner who presented the case, told the commission the proposal would be consistent with observed development trends along the corridor and that construction‑services uses are permitted in C4.

The applicant described the operation as an administrative/dispatch hub with indoor storage for specialized hydro‑excavation trucks. Kevin Moore, whom he identified as Badger’s Upper Midwest general manager, said the company intends to store vehicles indoors and limit on‑site operations: “We do not store any contaminated material on‑site,” Moore said, and he told the panel Badger would back trucks into heated bays at the end of each day to limit idling and reduce neighborhood impacts.

Residents and local officials pressed the company and staff over truck routing, water use, lighting, screening and the long‑term consequences of rezoning the entire parcel. Sue Stein, Homer Township supervisor, said the change would be “a big change” for the property, noting that less than 25% of the parcel is currently C2 and that the rest is R2 residential. “This development does not follow the development of the area,” Stein said.

Mayor Christina of Homer Glen (first name given in the record) told commissioners the village had passed a resolution of formal objection and said the village worries the rezoning would increase intensity and conflict with Homer Glen’s corridor vision; she also raised concerns about water, saying the village anticipates the operation could use tens of thousands of gallons per day and that municipal sewer service would not be available until roughly 2030.

Badger witnesses answered many technical questions during cross‑examination. Company witnesses and a union operator described truck capacity and operations: one company representative said the trucks carry up to 1,680 gallons when full, and a Badger witness said the company’s board approved up to $6,000,000 for the facility. Badger representatives said routine truck washing and decontamination would occur off‑site, that trucks would be stored inside, and that lighting would be motion‑activated and limited to the building perimeter.

Residents voiced concerns about road safety, noise, air quality and property values. Multiple speakers asked whether the map amendment would apply to the full 38 acres (they were told rezoning would apply to the parcel as requested), and whether future uses could be more intensive if the land were rezoned C4. Commissioners repeatedly asked staff and the applicant to clarify whether only the front portion of the site would be developed; the applicant said its operational footprint would be smaller than the full parcel and that Badger would be open to selling back unused acreage to a nearby forest preserve.

After public comment and rebuttal, a commissioner moved to approve the map amendment; the motion passed on a 4–3 roll call. Commissioners who voted yes said the request met the county’s map‑amendment criteria and fit observed development patterns on US‑159th; commissioners voting no cited community impacts, water and truck‑routing concerns and the scale of the rezoning across 38 acres. The case will now be heard by the Land Use and Development Committee on June 4 and then by the full county board on a later date for final consideration.

Action at a glance: The commission voted to advance the map amendment 4–3; the case is scheduled for the county Land Use and Development Committee on June 4 and then will go to the County Board for a decision.

What’s next: Commissioners and staff said they will continue to coordinate with IDOT, local municipalities and engineering consultants on routing and utility availability; the committee hearing will include further staff analysis and opportunity for both sides to present additional information.