Grayslake OKs trucking facility despite concerns from Mundelein neighbors
Grayslake village board members have approved a trucking facility over the objections from residents in a bordering neighborhood in Mundelein.
At a meeting Tuesday night, the village board for the second time since August 2014 agreed to grant a limited industrial-use zoning classification to allow the $14 million Saia Motor Freight Line truck terminal. Construction on the project is well underway on the village's far southern border touching Mundelein.
Trustees voted 6-0 in favor of granting the zoning to Saia. About 60 spectators, most of them from Mundelein, attended the meeting and reacted negatively after the board's vote.
Officials said Saia requested the process to be repeated because of claims in a lawsuit that there were defects in the original notice about the rezoning request for the 33 acres in question at the southwest corner of Peterson and Midlothian roads.
Similar to a hearing hosted by the advisory Grayslake plan commission/zoning board of appeals in July, about 15 Mundelein residents and others criticized the concept of the 24-hour truck operation so close to a residential neighborhood. About 200 people attended the July session.
Concerns included the dangers and noise of abundant truck traffic, the safety of people using an adjoining bike path, health impacts from diesel emissions.
Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz was among the speakers at public comment time Tuesday. He criticized Grayslake for allowing a project that won't benefit the area.
"You are harming my community," Lentz told Grayslake's elected officials. "You're harming us. And if it goes through and it's used (as a trucking terminal), the harm could be irreparable and permanent, unless trucks just simply stop existing or Saia gets rid of it and stops."
Lentz added the Mundelein village board would protect his community from Grayslake's "harmful and aggressive actions."
Grayslake and several residents have sued Grayslake and Saia, questioning the validity of last year's annexation of the 33 acres and zoning. The suit contends use is incompatible with the surroundings.
Plans call for the Grayslake terminal to be operational in the first quarter of 2016 and will employ 100, according to Saia spokeswoman Jeannie S. Jump.