The Tinley Park Village Board moved forward Tuesday with two requests that could bring new developments to 191st Street, despite pushback from some residents in nearby neighborhoods.
The main proposal was a zoning change request to allow a McDonald’s restaurant with a drive-thru and outdoor dining area at the Brookside Creek Retail Center planned unit development. The property is a part of a major commercial project at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue.
Residents expressed concerns at a Dec. 18 Plan Commission meeting about the restaurant’s proximity to neighborhoods. Several residents said they were concerned about noise and headlights and requested the restaurant not be open 24 hours.
Resident Pamela Maloney said noise already carries across the property and said she worries about increasing that noise.
Jennifer Vargas presented a photo of a vehicle’s headlights and asked how long it would take for landscaping, that officials said could block the light, to grow.
Mayor Michael Glotz said because of the opposition, the proposal was only moved past first reading Tuesday instead of being fully approved, in order to give residents multiple chances to comment.
The Plan Commission also added an amendment to limit the McDonald’s operation to between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Dan Olsen, president of Upstream Design Group, the civil engineering firm behind the McDonald’s development, opposed the hour restrictions Tuesday night.
“We appreciate the thought that’s been put into this,” Olsen said. “Obviously our desire is to have the restrictions lifted and to allow the demands of the business to speak to the hours that are set for the business.”
Community Development Director Michael Coleman also said the master developer agreed to increase landscaping along the south property line. Officials also discussed enforcing fence installation at the December Plan Commission meeting.
The proposal will be up for final approval at the Village Board meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 3 at Tinley Park Village Hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Ave.
Gas and Wash
The other contentious proposal approved Tuesday allowed zoning changes for the Gas and Wash business on 191st Street to relocate to the southwest corner of Harlem and 191st Street.
The architect for the business, Chris Kalischefski, said Dec. 18 the gas station wanted to be on the corner, but the site was not available until now.
But Vargas, a resident of a nearby neighborhood, said at the Dec. 18 Plan Commission meeting she was concerned with vehicle traffic on her street and argued the development will increase traffic.
She said the neighborhood is opposed to 24-hour businesses nearby, and are concerned about noise and lighting.
The proposal passed the Plan Commission 3-2 Dec. 18.
awright@chicagotribune.com
