Board disapproves outdoor storage yard

At the Nov. 18 board meeting, Plainfield Trustees expressed their disapproval of an outdoor storage yard.

But that might not matter, since the property isn’t in Plainfield.

The property owner of 26049 W. Lockport St. in Plainfield Township is seeking to have the land rezoned.

Since the property is within 1.5 miles of the village boundary, the village was notified of the proposed changed.

The owner, who did not attend the meeting, wants to use part of the 5-acre plot as an outdoor storage yard for boats. This would require the land being rezoned from agricultural to light industrial use.

It is currently used for other outdoor storage and a landscaping business.

Village Planner Jonathan Proulx told the board the village’s Future Land Use Plan lists the area as “medium density residential.”

However, there are no known development or expansion plans there now.

“The owner has said he would be willing to annex in if it ever became contiguous to the village,” Proulx noted.

“It’s their land and it’s not within the village boundary,” Trustee Cally Larson said. “So it seems like an odd curveball to throw at someone.”

Ultimately, trustees voted 4-2 to send a letter of objection to Will County. Trustees Kevin Calkins and Mar gie Bonuchi voted against the letter, which may force the owner to make changes in order to be approved by the county or have no effect on the county’s decision at all.