With the Cook County Board set to consider a compost site proposed for land near Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, the Maine Township Town Board made its opposition of the plan known.
The town board on April 25 passed a resolution objecting to Patriot Acres’ special use/unique use application before the county that seeks approval for the operation of an organic material recycling facility on a former landfill site at 9800 E. Central Road in unincorporated Cook County, east of the Des Plaines River.
The resolution was introduced by Trustee Peter Gialamas, who called the proposed facility “detrimental” to residents of Maine Township, a press release from the township said.
“This is an area with too much population to be subjected to the known odor and pest problems with such facilities,” Gialamas said in the statement.
Patriot Acres’ application is scheduled to go before the Cook County Board of Commissioners during its May 10 meeting, said Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri, whose district includes the proposed compost site.
Silvestri said he plans to recuse himself from voting on the matter due to his professional association with the law firm that is representing Patriot Acres.
If approved, the facility will occupy 25 acres and compost landscape waste and food scraps, but no meat, said John Lardner, one of the owners of Patriot Acres, during a public meeting in April.
In a letter to residents, Patriot Acres wrote that the company will take steps to “prevent odors,” including using a covered building for the unloading and mixing of materials.
“Odor control is exceptionally important to us because our business philosophy is to remain customer-focused and maintain the good will of the community where we operate,” the letter said. “We have thoroughly prepared an extensive odor-control plan, combined with the covered building and aerated static pile technology, which will provide the highest level of assurance to residents that odor will not be an issue. The plan also includes daily air monitoring to detect odors on the site and a hotline to call if odors are detected beyond the property.”
The compost created on the site will be marketed to landscape contractors, farmers, greenhouses and “other users within the horticulture and agriculture industries,” according to Patriot Acres’ website.
Located just north of Oakton Community College’s Des Plaines campus, the site of the proposed facility is “nearly a half-mile distance from residential areas,” the company said. Maps show that homes closest to the site are on East River Road, south of Central Road, in Des Plaines, and west of River Road and north of Gregory Avenue in Mount Prospect. The Camp Pine Woods are located to the north and east of the site.
Residents, including a group that calls itself Citizens vs. Patriot Acres have spoken out publicly against the compost site, alleging that odor could travel up to five miles away. Concerns about increased rodent and pest activity, as well as truck traffic, were also expressed.
During an April 10 meeting of the Park Ridge City Council, 2nd Ward Ald. Nicholas Milissis, who represents the northwest part of the city, asked if Park Ridge is “monitoring” the developments of the compost site proposal and if it will have any impact on Park Ridge.
“It may have an impact on Des Plaines residents, I don’t know,” said Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim. “But it’s far enough away that it shouldn’t cause any problems for us.”
Milissis also referred to resident concerns about odors traveling as far as Park Ridge, which were reported by the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate.
“I think the media sometimes hypes that a little bit,” Zingsheim responded.
Amy Bartucci of Go Green Park Ridge, a group that raises awareness of local environmental matters, said members support Patriot Acres as long as the company addresses the concerns that residents have raised.
“The county board would need to ensure that proper regulations are followed to curb and prevent ill effects to the air or local waterways, and that any issues are addressed promptly and responsibly,” Bartucci said.
She added: “Overseeing the Patriot Acres operation would have to be long-term, effective and neighbor-friendly.”
Like Maine Township, the Des Plaines City Council on April 3 also passed a resolution objecting to the application for the compost facility, though it deleted a paragraph that made reference to “truck traffic, disease vectors like birds and rodents, airborne particulates and odors generated by the facility.”
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune
