Our Meeting With The Developer

We were asked to provide our position on the development of the corner of route 64 and route 47.  

                                “Where do we the 5 write-in’s stand on the issue?”  

To better answer the question, we scheduled a meeting with the owner. It was productive and professional.   We were able to address the questions of the residents.

He agreed to change his stance on truck parking . 

We addressed the noise pollution, crime, and low-income housing. 

                          “This is where the developer stands on the issue”  

While this was, ultimately, the current administration’s responsibility to get this done, should we get elected, we will have to address this issue as well as so many other matters of concern to the residents and landowners.  

In our opinion, considering how business gets done in other communities, this should have already been resolved.  

The B1 and B2 zoning issues are not just a thorn in the side for Mr. Lazar. They affect all of the commercial land owners in the Village of Lily Lake. Our objective is to not just solve these matters facing the commercial land owners but to solve the issues of all the residents of Lily Lake who have struggled with the current administration. 

  Let me touch on truck fueling and parking being the cause for noise pollution affecting the residents. Several individuals have stated that this is a major concern.   

The closest home is approximately 550 feet to the existing gas station and is located on the southeast corner of Wooley Road and route 64 feet and is surrounded by B1 and B2 commercial. 

The second closest home is approximately 721 feet and is located at the northwest corner of route 64 and Wooley Road.  It is surrounded by M1 commercial zoning and buffered by vacant land to the east.

The third closest home is in the Fox Wilds subdivision which is the closest subdivision to the gas station. It is located all the way on the other side of the Great Western Trail and buffered by tree lines, open space, and rolling terrain. This home is approximately 1,200 feet from the station. 

A resident sent us a Direct Message on our website. He is a home owner on Fox Wilds Drive. Without being prompted, this resident made the following statement:  

  “I have lived here for over 30 years, on Fox Wilds, and noise from 64 and 47 is barely audible, due to the built in sound barrier of the trail and 47 dropping below grade. Maybe an occasional Jake break, but otherwise you can't hear anything. You guys have my vote”  

The closest subdivision is approximately ¼ of a mile away. How would it be possible for gas station noise pollution to exceed the noise pollution from the current highway traffic. It’s just not possible!

The original proposals from Mr. Lazar to the current administration started with100 truck spaces and included long and short-term rentals all of which were denied by the current admin. Mr. Lazar then agreed to reduce the number of spaces to 60. This was also denied. He tried again and offered 30 space. Again, all of this was denied.   

We listened to you and your concerns and we took this information to him in a face to face meeting. This is what Mr. Lazar now proposes after our meeting.  

1. He will Lower the truck parking to 20 spaces. The station needs a minimum of 20 spaces to accommodate the truck drivers that need to fuel, eat, use the bathroom, take a break, etc.   

2. He agrees that there will be “no monthly rental spaces”.  All truck spaces will be “come and go” spaces only. These spaces will have a 2-hour maximum parking time with signage posted in front of each space.   

3. He will provide a side walk and green space leading up to the IC trail. There will also be green spaces that will include a gazebo, dog walking area, outdoor seating, etc., to be used by all of those visiting the station. This is already in the original proposal.   

What he will not agree to:   

1. Mr. Lazar requires a 24-hour fuel station for all motorists. The current administration and members of the public have stated that this is unacceptable. They do not want 24-hour fueling. We disagree. Every time a motorist or truck driver fuels up, the Village wins with additional revenue and no additional noise pollution.   

2. We have already addressed the noise pollution, so this should be a non-issue. The anxiety over additional crime should no longer be a concern as there will be no overnight or long-term parking of trucks. In terms of theft/elicit activity, Mr. Lazar has assured us that the appropriate security measures will be in place to protect both the residents along with the station itself. Crime is on the rise everywhere and that is not the cause of Mr. Lazar.   

3. Mr. Lazar will not absorb the expense to connect the trail to the planned sidewalk and green space area. The State, County, Village. Forest Preserve will have to provide the connection from the walking trail to his side walk if the Village does want it to connect. We believe that this is a reasonable offer. This is where the gazebo, space for dog walking, eating, and additional green spaces will be located. We agree, Mr. Lazar should not have to bear the burden of that expense. These were the most pressing issues the current administration could not resolve.   

In closing:   

Mr. Lazar has stated that if this proposal does not satisfy the residents of Lily Lake, he will leave the corner as is. We think it is safe to say that the current administration has handled the development of the corner very poorly. They have potentially destroyed an opportunity for the clean-up and the opportunity for improved development of the corner which is the first image of Lily Lake that most everyone sees as they pass through the intersection. In addition, they are also restricting the revenue that all commercial properties could provide to the Village by the adoption of a low-income housing plan in April of 2021 to cover 27 acres of the Rt, 64 commercial corridor.  We do not understand their mindset.  

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