Politics & Government
Elmhurst Panel OKs Controversial Warehouse Plan; Neighbors Opposed
The matter is headed to a City Council committee and then the full council. Noise and traffic are among the concerns.
ELMHURST, IL – A key Elmhurst panel on Thursday approved a controversial proposed warehouse in the southwest part of town, although neighbors objected to it.
The Zoning and Planning Commission unanimously voted for the plan by Houston-based Alliance Industrial Co.
The proposal next goes to the City Council's zoning committee and then to the full council.
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The warehouse is planned for Riverside Drive, near Salt Creek Elementary School. It would require the demolition of Clarion Inn, the site of many police calls.
The company said it hadn't lined up any tenants yet for the building. But many residents speculated that it could become an ICE jail, which they opposed and noted the developer's experience with such lockups in Georgia.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Alliance executives promised the building wouldn't become such a jail, even offering a deed restriction to that effect.
The developer also said the warehouse could eventually consist of up to 28 docks, down from the original 32.
In their opposition, residents said they were concerned about the possible noise and truck traffic from the warehouse.
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