South Cook News

The Tinley Park Plan commission last week unanimously voted t to grant a special use permit and zoning change needed for a controversial proposal for a "Lenny's Gas N Wash" truck stop with video gambling on the southeast corner of LaGrange Avenue and 183rd Street.

The truck stop proposal is being developed by Leonard McEnery, whose companies have donated $31,270 to Mayor Michael Goltz and his One Tinley Park political action committee.

At the Thursday public hearing, a former Tinley Park planning department employee who lives near the proposed truck stop, said she and her neighbors are concerned about increased car and truck traffic on 183rd Street.

Amanda Reardon said she attended the public meeting to discuss "issues in the staff and traffic report that no one has seemed to talk about."

Reardon referred to a section of a report that stated that village engineers reported the amount of traffic generated by the proposed truck stop will generate additional traffic and delays at the intersection and surrounding area. 

Reardon also said it seems to her village staff, however, ignored statements from the village engineer."In my mind (they are) sounding some alarms in terms of the traffic."

"As I read through the proposed findings of fact presented by planning staff, I see a complete almost ignoring of that, and saying that traffic is going to be OK," she said.

She also said that in her opinion as a former planner that the "level of service" used by the village to calculate potential intersection traffic "seemed low."

Community Development Director Dan Ritter said changes have been made to the plan regarding traffic, but acknowledged "it's not perfect."

"We've taken big steps forward in the direction that we thought was going to be a compromise from all ends. We are also limited because 183rd is in the jurisdiction of [Cook County]. As staff and the applicant, we've been trying to connect with Cook County to see what short term and long term plans could be and … what would happen at that intersection. There's no guarantee where trucks are going to turn," said Dana West of Robinson Engineering.

West said there have been explorations of "other alternatives that don't seem feasible or within the realm of reason for this particular applicant to have to handle with their project."

Plan Commission Chairman Garrett Gray said "There are some issues now and there will be some more … But it's not going to stop progress. I understand that."

Following the public hearing, the Plan Commission forwarded the proposed special permit and zoning changes to the Village Board for consideration.