Fox River Grove trustees weigh on in works garage

In the end, Fox River Grove trustees on Thursday agreed with most of the six recommendations the zoning board made about a public works garage slated to go in a residential neighborhood.

Trustees' feedback will be reflected in an ordinance authorizing a special use permit for the $3.5 million garage to be built on County Line Road near Route 22.

The village plans to level an existing public works garage to expand its wastewater treatment plant in advance of pending regulations from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

They will replace it with the new public works garage.

During the special board meeting, trustees decided the building needs three entrances, not the one or two the zoning board recommended out of consideration for neighbors, who have been opposed to the plan from the start.

The majority of Thursday's discussion centered on that item.

Board President Robert Nunamaker and trustees Gerald Menzel and Duane Figurski supported leaving the three entrances intact.

Yet, trustees Michael Ireland and Steve Knar favored shrinking the building so it could accommodate two entrances.

"Basically, we're trying to compromise and lessen the burden on people so they don't see trucks all day," Knar said.

But reconfiguring the building would create access and turning issues for public works vehicles and cost more money to accomplish, officials said.

"In a sense, we'd be starting over," said Brian Wright of SRBL Architects.

The board compromised and decided vehicles would use two main entrances and create a third for auxiliary use.

Thursday night, trustees also said they would:

• Restrict public works vehicles' access to North Road between 7 and 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. They will also put entries and exits off County Line Road and use North Road.

• Install walkways rather than sidewalks on the west side of County Line Road between Route 22 and North Avenue.

• Set the building back 50 feet from the road, rather than 30 feet.

• Create a natural traffic barrier that includes evergreen trees - officials did not believe existing plants there would survive.

• But the board will not plant off-site shrubs in the right of way to buffer headlights or maintain plants for affected property owners. Trustees said the village should not be responsible for taking care of private property.

Trustees Suzanne Blohm and James Tuman were not present for Thursday's discussion.

The board is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Aug. 19.