New Lenox Board Gives Preliminary Approval to ‘The Patio’ Restaurant Amid Traffic Concerns

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | October 27, 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board granted preliminary approval for a special use permit for The Patio restaurant, a popular family-owned chain, to build a new location at the southwest corner of U.S. Route 30 and Prairie Road. The project, which requires several zoning deviations for the challenging site, received support from the board despite some residents raising concerns about increased traffic in the area.

The Patio Restaurant Key Points:

• The board reviewed a first reading of an ordinance for a 9,233-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru and a 719-square-foot outdoor patio.

• Residents voiced concerns about traffic safety on Haven Avenue, particularly near the entrance closest to Prairie Road and in relation to a nearby daycare.

• The developer agreed to several changes to be a “good neighbor,” including making the easternmost entrance an “entrance only,” removing a curb cut on Route 30, and using indirect, shielded lighting to minimize impact on nearby homes.

• The project is considered a key redevelopment for the village’s downtown district and has generated significant public excitement.

The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, October 27, 2025, gave its preliminary endorsement to a plan that would bring the first new location for ‘The Patio’ restaurant chain in over a decade to the village.

The board reviewed the first reading of an ordinance granting a special use permit for a preliminary and final Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.) plat for the restaurant at the busy corner of U.S. Route 30 and Prairie Road. The proposal includes a 9,233-square-foot building with a drive-thru and a 719-square-foot outdoor dining area.

The project represents a significant redevelopment of what village staff described as a “challenging site” with unique grade changes. To accommodate the development, the petitioner requested several zoning deviations, including reductions in parking stall size and landscape buffer yards, all of which the Plan Commission supported.

Steve Kolopoulos, representing the family-owned business, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. “We kind of fell in love with the site. We fell in love with the community here,” he said. “We want to serve good people great food. I mean, that’s our goal.”

Mayor Tim Baldermann noted the public’s excitement, stating he has never seen such a positive social media reaction to a new business. “We are thrilled to see The Patio take an interest,” Baldermann said. “They are spending a tremendous amount of money and time into this.”

However, the plan was met with concerns from residents about traffic and safety. Bob Bodana and Lori Lindberg, who both live near the site, addressed the board about potential traffic stacking and congestion on Haven Avenue, especially with a daycare nearby and the impending opening of a new roundabout at Cedar and Haven.

“During certain times of the day that’s going to be really, really busy,” Bodana said.

Village staff and the developer detailed measures to mitigate these concerns. The original curb cut on U.S. Route 30 will be eliminated, a move praised by the mayor as a safety improvement. The easternmost entrance on Haven Avenue will be restricted to “entrance only” to prevent conflicts with traffic from Prairie Road. The main access point will be a full-access drive further west on Haven Avenue. A fire truck turning study was completed, meeting the requirements of the New Lenox Fire Protection District.

Lindberg also raised concerns about the project feeling like “a size 15 foot going into a size 10 shoe” due to the requested deviations. She advocated for the preservation of a large mulberry tree on the property, which she described as a “unique specimen in Will County.” Kolopoulos assured the board he would try to save the tree.

Board members were supportive of the project, praising the developer for working with staff to address concerns. Trustee Keith Madsen commended the design and material choices. “Those deviations that we are looking at here, I think it’s necessary to get to an end goal,” Madsen said. “You guys have done an excellent job at selecting materials that are going to look good for the long run and hold up.”

Trustee Lindsay Scalise added that while resident concerns are valid, the project is a positive development. “It turns out to be really great and I think that this project is awesome,” she said. “I know that we’re all really like honored that you chose New Lenox for the patio.”

The ordinance will return to the board for a final vote at a future meeting.