CONCERNED TAX PAYERS FEAR NEGLIGENCE IN PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
Due to the inclement weather with frozen temperatures, the continuation rezoning hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 6 at the same location in Sugar Grove. This continued hearing follows the hearing held on January 23 when over 500+ residents packed the room at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove to hear compelling testimony in opposition of the rezoning of 760+ acres of land owned by Crown Properties.
We recently learned from a group of concerned citizens that the development company continues to make offers to area landowners. Because of this, many fear that the developer's intentions could be on a far greater scale with even more adverse impact on the community should this initial rezoning request be passed for Phase 1 and Phase II of the multi-phase development.
Opposing residents feel that there are a lot of unanswered questions and hope to gain clarity in the coming weeks. Thousands of Sugar Grove residents are in opposition of the zoning change and the proposed development surrounding the reconstructed I-88 interchange, allowing for both eastbound and westbound traffic.
Crown Properties is requesting the change from E-1 Estate Residential zoning on the 760+ acres that they have purchased through the years to PDD (Planned Development District) for their proposed 8 million square foot warehouse development. They plan to build 60+ foot massive-scale Amazon-like distribution centers (12 are appearing in the proposed development rendering below). The property is projected to bring close to 2,000 semi trucks daily to the area at minimum with 24 hour operations, though these estimations were challenged by one of the expert speakers ion January 23 who compared this project to existing similar projects. The underestimation was placed at 35%.
Residents will again give testimony to the negative impact that this development would have on the communities of Sugar Grove and Elburn's Blackberry Township, as well as surrounding areas. Testimony was given on the environmental, health and safety concerns that a project of this magnitude would inflict upon the community.
More than 80 residents have signed up to share their opposing testimony collectively. The next hearing will take place on Wednesday February 6, 2019 at the same location. The opposition committee, legally referred to as Woods Not Warehouses, LLC, consists of many local area volunteers. The group urges Sugar Grove and Elburn residents to follow the facebook page I-88 Corridor Development for updates and petition signing dates & times, and to attend the next hearing at Waubonsee Community College, APC Event Center on February 6, 2019 at 7pm.
Top: An example of inside the type of distribution centers being proposed. Middle: A rendering showing the massive scale warehouses in comparison to Sugar Grove subdivisions. 3 buildings equal the same size as one neighborhood.
An example of one of the twelve buildings that Crown is proposing to build along Route 47 in Sugar Grove.
