Politics & Government
Well Water Debated; MorningStar Mission Annexed
The resale shop and other stores located in the strip center, off West Circle Drive and Route 30, were brought into village territory.
The village boundaries of New Lenox continue to expand, with the most recent addition being the MorningStar Mission resale shop and adjacent businesses.
The property is located at 2571 E. Lincoln Hwy, just across Route 30 from the retail center with and , and is 3.51 acres total.
MorningStar will build a temporary parking lot behind the building to hold 63 cars, in part because of the impact of Route 30 construction. The site, which would be re-zoned to a commercial property when annexed, could be re-developed in the future.
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At a previous board meeting, the owners said there's no immediate plans to change what's on the property, but it will happen at some point. Because MorningStar is next to residential properties, certain future developments are prohibited, including gas stations, major auto repair, used car lots, warehouse uses and outside storage.
Should People in the Village Get to Use Wells?
The board also held a public hearing for another annexation agreement, this one for a residential property owned by Trinity Services that serves as a group home for up to six developmentally disabled adults.
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Planning administrator Robin Ellis said Trinity wants to join the village boundaries primarily to be able to tap into its water system. The property, located at 225 W. Wood St., currently has a well that Trinity asked to keep solely for irrigation purposes and lawn-watering.
But trustee Dave Smith, along with other board members, was concerned that would lead others to ask to keep their wells upon annexation, or people currently in the village to drill.
Builder Brian Rigsby told the board that keeping the well wasn't a big issue for Trinity Services, so that portion will be removed from the annexation agreement. Still, the board will continue to debate the issue of whether wells should be allowed under any circumstances.
The village taxes water use, so if anyone opted to use a well it would mean lost revenue.
"We're setting a very dangerous precedent," Smith said.
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