Navistar factions spar over future of proposed Lisle HQ

Opponents of Navistar's proposed move to a Lisle office complex say some assurances about future growth will go a long way in easing many of their concerns about the engine and truck manufacturing giant's relocation plans.

But Navistar officials said the company would have no ability to increase its size or operations without jumping through local or state hoops first. All of which require public notifications, said Don Sharp, Navistar's vice president and chief information officer.

The commission listened Wednesday night to roughly four hours of cross examination of Navistar engineer Casey Pyzik by opposition attorney Mark Daniel. The back-and-forth was a continuation of a nearly eight-hour hearing Saturday, when Navistar unveiled its latest design proposal for the former Alcatel-Lucent building at 2600 Warrenville Road. Daniel focused much of his questioning on future use of a research and development lab that would be built to house six engine testing stations.

Residents who live near the 87-acre complex make up the majority of the vocal opposition to the proposal.

"The most disappointing thing was not being able to get some information about the uses of the technology center moving here from (manufacturing plants) in Fort Wayne (Ind.) and Melrose Park," said resident MaryLynn Zajdel.

Zajdel's group, Citizens for Healthy Development, is requesting that Navistar never seek or be granted a special air-quality permit that would allow greater emissions from the engine-testing facility. Sharp said the company has no plans for such a permit, but if it sought one in the future it's unlikely Navistar can get it without any questions being asked. He said the company won't commit to limitations on the complex because "you can't see perfectly into the future."

"Any time there's a change, there are clear processes that we would have to follow," he said.

Lisle's planning and zoning commission will hold its third hearing on the proposed move May 6. At least two more hearings are expected in late May.

The planning and zoning board is being asked to recommend approval or denial of the proposal to the village board. The village board will ultimately decide whether to allow the company to move its headquarters to the now-abandoned campus.