Asphalt plant plan in Wheeling meets opposition
Approximately 100 people indicated opposition Thursday night to a plan to construct an asphalt plant on the site of the old Wheeling Public Works garage.
The village has a contract to sell the former public works site at 165-233 W. Hintz Road to PAL Group Inc. and to purchase an existing asphalt plant on Wheeling Road just south of Dundee Road.
The sale of the village land is contingent on the property's being rezoned for a heavier type of industry than is now allowed. PAL is also seeking variances, including one that would allow buildings 100 feet tall.
This was the third of at least four sessions the Wheeling Plan Commission will devote to the issue. The commission will make recommendations on the zoning changes to the village board, which has the final vote.
PAL is associated with Orange Crush, highway contractor and asphalt manufacturer, which is owned by the Palumbo family, said Tim Winter, vice president of PAL.
Fifteen people who live near the site of the proposed plant, especially in the Ridgefield neighborhood, spoke against the plan Tuesday. On Dec. 17 a group of area industries that oppose the plant will present expert witnesses such as attorneys, appraisers, engineers and environmental experts, said Jonathan J. Knight, a consultant who represents two of those industries, Indeck Power Equipment Co. and RSVP Direct.
The village would like the current asphalt property, which is about four acres, to be redeveloped as part of its proposed Town Center, Jon Sfondilis, acting village manager, said in a telephone interview. The current owner would be responsible for any cleanup.
Residents of the Ridgefield area were notified of the proposed plant by fliers passed around by Indeck, said Mark Skalski. Bill Maloney, chairman of the commission, said anyone requesting a zoning change is only required to notify property owners within 250 feet.
The new plant is expected to be larger than the existing one and would involve a stone crusher, which is not used in the current plant.
The company's own reports to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency show a plant in Skokie exceeds the standards for volatile organic emissions, and one crusher there creates more than 7,000 pounds of dust a year, said Brian Ritzenthaler, who obtained the reports by filing Freedom of Information requests. Winter declined to comment on Ritzenthaler's statements.
Many speakers echoed Joseph Dlugosz, who said the residents are concerned about dust, dirt, noise and damage to roads.
Other concerns expressed were harm to property values and dangers that heavy trucks could present to schoolchildren.