Willowbrook residents continue to object to plans to build a 15-screen theater complex on the west side of Wickes Furniture property at 7601 Illinois Highway 83.
Objections to the Cinemark USA multitheater focus on increased traffic that residents and Willowbrook Village Board members say would follow the construction of the theaters and a three-floor parking garage.
“We have very strong concerns over the intensity of the use (of the land). This is a very important issue,” said Village President Gary Pretzer.
He was speaking at a recent Village Board meeting that was moved to the Willowbrook Holiday Inn to handle the overflow crowd attracted by discussion of the theater complex. About 150 residents listened as representatives from Cinemark explained development changes they had made since a previous meeting.
The main access road to the Cinemark complex would be two-way Midway Drive, which runs east from Illinois Highway 83 into an industrial park. Residents say that road would be inadequate for traffic from the 2,700-seat theater complex and 970 parking spaces.
Residents also pointed out that the 10-screen Cinemark complex in Melrose Park has fewer screens on a larger land area and multiple access roads.
