Village Board Approves Industrial Rezoning on Gougar Road Over Resident Protests, But Freezes Construction for Years

New Lenox Village Board of Trustees Meeting | April 27, 2026

Article Summary:
Following intense pushback from neighboring residents, the New Lenox Village Board approved a development agreement and rezoning for a Northern Builders industrial project south of Laraway Road. However, to mitigate traffic concerns, the Village mandated a strict freeze preventing the developer from starting construction or receiving occupancy until major county road and overpass improvements are completed.

Gougar Road Industrial Development Key Points:

• Zoning Approval: The Board passed ordinances authorizing a Development Agreement and rezoning the property at the southwest corner of Laraway Road and Gougar Road (extended) to I-1 Limited Industrial.

• Resident Backlash: Multiple residents from nearby subdivisions like Jacob’s Field and Country View argued the warehouses will bring dangerous truck traffic near schools and destroy the residential character of the area.

• Construction Freeze: Northern Builders cannot obtain a building permit until the county begins widening Gougar Road and constructing the CN railroad overpass, or a period of three years expires.

• Occupancy Block: The developer cannot receive a Certificate of Occupancy until the road improvements are completely finished, or four years expire.

The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, April 27, 2026, voted to approve the rezoning of agricultural land for industrial warehouse use along Gougar Road, balancing developer rights with resident fury by attaching strict, multi-year road construction contingencies to the project.

The Board passed an Ordinance Authorizing a Development Agreement with Cherry Hill Laraway LLC (Northern Builders) and a subsequent Ordinance Rezoning the property at the southwest corner of Laraway Road and the future Gougar Road extension.

The approvals followed a second round of intense public comment from residents representing nearby subdivisions, including Jacob’s Field and Country View. Residents fiercely objected to the prospect of heavy semi-truck traffic bleeding into residential zones.

“I don’t understand how more trucks on our roads near a high school, near grade schools… makes that statement true when this gets built,” said resident Mike Gian Paulo. “I don’t understand how this benefits New Lenox… I see how it benefits certain corporations.”

Resident Dennis McLaclin argued the development was encroaching on established neighborhoods that have been there since the 1970s.

“No one wanted that there. No one wants these warehouses there, and they’re being shoved on them,” McLaclin told the Board. “There’s plenty of open spots for these warehouses. They got hundreds of available acres in that park.”

In response to the public outcry, the Village forced Northern Builders to accept a highly unusual timeline restriction. Community Development Director Robin Ellis explained that the developer must dedicate the right-of-way along their entire frontage and construct a landscaped berm. Crucially, they are legally barred from receiving a building permit until construction physically begins on the county’s widening of Gougar Road and the new CN railroad overpass, or until three years have passed. Furthermore, the Village will not issue a Certificate of Occupancy until those road improvements are entirely complete, or four years have passed.

Matthew Garci, representing Northern Builders, confirmed the developer had agreed to the terms and was actively working with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Will County to dedicate the necessary land for the overpass.

“Based on our first reading of this, to be responsive and to work appropriately with staff, we resided to the idea that okay, we’re going to carry this… we’re going to sit on it for three years,” Garci said. “We have that carry cost for that period of time, which is fine.”

Mayor Tim Baldermann defended the Board’s decision, noting that the Village has kept its long-standing promise to prevent industrial development from crossing east of Gougar Road. He pointed out that the Village previously relocated the new Water Resource Recovery Facility away from residential areas to accommodate public demand, leaving this specific parcel open for commercial or industrial growth.

“Our commitment was to keep everything west of Gougar, which this is, and to say, ‘Okay, they’re ready to go now. No, you need to wait,'” Baldermann said. “That’s very unusual for us to say that… But we’re doing everything we can to accommodate the residents and the business owner.”

Both the Development Agreement and the rezoning ordinances passed on 6-0 roll call votes.