The Joliet City Council this week tabled action on a plan to annex two parcels near the city’s new auto racing facilities.
The properties are adjacent to the Route 66 Raceway, a drag strip on Illinois Highway 53 off Schweitzer Road, and a new 75,000-seat racetrack, which is being built east of that. The new track, to hold three races a summer, will open next year.
The first petition is from owners of a 197-acre parcel, which was previously used for farming. Under an annexation agreement, some of the land could be used for parking for fans going to the racetrack, city officials said.
On Tuesday, the annexation was tabled until July 18 because the farm owners, the McDonald family, need to negotiate the final points of an agreement with the racetrack developer for their share of infrastructure improvements to Schweitzer Road. The racetrack developer has already paid for all those improvements, which will also benefit the McDonald property.
The second petition seeks annexation for a 29-acre landscaping business on the west side of Illinois Highway 53. City officials sought the delay, which will be until July 5, to discuss some land uses that could be better for the zoning for that area, said City Manager John Mezera.
If the City Council annexes the properties, they will be the first brought into the city since construction on the racetrack began last year. City officials see the annexations as the first step in developing a corridor along Illinois 53 for industrial and commercial development and recreation opportunities.
