New Lenox Residents Challenge Industrial Rezoning Plan Over Truck Traffic and Safety Concerns

Village of New Lenox Board of Trustees Meeting | August 2025

Article Summary: A proposal by Northern Builders to rezone a 65-acre residential parcel at Laraway and Gougar roads for industrial use was met with strong opposition from dozens of residents at the New Lenox Village Board meeting. After a lengthy debate focused on truck traffic, safety, and property values, the board deferred a vote, pressing the developer to agree to conditions that would tie any future building occupancy to the completion of major road improvements.

Cherry Hill Laraway Rezoning Proposal Key Points:

• Northern Builders is requesting to rezone a 65-acre parcel from residential (R-3) to limited industrial (I-1) to extend the Cherry Hill Business Park.

• Numerous residents, many from the adjacent Jacob’s Field subdivision, spoke against the project, citing concerns about increased truck traffic, noise, aesthetics, and safety for Lincoln-Way West High School students.

• Mayor Tim Baldermann and trustees secured a preliminary agreement from the developer to make any future occupancy permit contingent on the completion of the Gougar Road widening and overpass project.

• The board took no action, as this was a first reading of the ordinance, and the item will return for a potential vote at a future meeting.

Dozens of residents packed the New Lenox Village Hall on Monday, August 25, 2025, to voice strong opposition to a proposed industrial development at the southwest corner of Laraway Road and an extended Gougar Road.

The proposal, brought forward by developer Northern Builders, seeks to rezone a 65-acre parcel from its current residential status to I-1 Limited Industrial for a continuation of the Cherry Hill Business Park. The plan drew extensive criticism from residents who raised concerns about an influx of truck traffic on already congested roads, noise and light pollution, declining property values, and the safety of nearby high school students.

Matthias Trizna of Northern Builders argued the project represents the “highest and best use for the vacant property,” serving as a buffer between future residential areas to the east and the village’s new Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) to the west. He also presented findings from a traffic engineer suggesting that an industrial use would generate 30-50% less traffic during peak hours compared to the currently zoned residential use.

Residents were not convinced. “We don’t really prefer or like to have another giant warehouse right on the doorstep of our community,” said resident Mike Jalo.

Paul, a resident of the Jacob’s Field subdivision, reminded the board that the land was planned for residential development when he built his home nine years ago. Brian, another Jacob’s Field resident, spoke of the impact on his home’s value, stating, “At no point did I ever envision being boxed in by industrial development.”

The primary concern echoed by nearly every speaker was the impact of trucks. Trustee Jim Wilson, who works in logistics, estimated a concept plan for a 900,000-square-foot facility could bring “50 to 150 plus trucks every day.” He stated, “My main concern is how we’re going to correctly or safely get those trucks in and out.”

Mayor Tim Baldermann and the board engaged in a lengthy, detailed discussion with the developers, acknowledging the residents’ “legitimate concerns.” The mayor was firm in stating the village would insist on several conditions not in the original proposal, including a 50-foot setback, extensive landscape berming, and an open-ended requirement for access road construction.

Most critically, Baldermann negotiated a tentative agreement to tie the project’s completion to regional infrastructure improvements. He asked if Northern Builders would have an issue “tying the occupancy of the building on that parcel to either the completion of the Gougar Road widening or a date far enough out where there is no reason Gougar Road shouldn’t be constructed.”

Matthew Grusecki, President of Northern Builders, replied, “I think that’s a reasonable thing for us to agree to.”

The proposal was presented as a first reading, and no vote was taken. Mayor Baldermann told residents the item would return to the board for a final vote at a future meeting, at which time they would have another opportunity to speak.