A Will County committee delayed a recommendation Thursday on a nondestructive hydro-excavation business proposed in Homer Township to allow time for company officials to work with Homer Glen and Homer Township officials, who oppose the plan.
The Will County Land Use and Development Committee heard plans from Badger Daylighting Corporation, which wants to build an office and house its trucks on about 38 acres at 15202 W. 159th St.
The company is seeking a zoning change to a highway commercial classification.
More than 500 residents signed an online petition opposing the proposal, and Homer Glen, Lockport and Homer Township officials voiced their concerns to the county.
Members of the Land Use Committee said they appreciate the company was willing to work with local leaders to find ways to satisfy residents’ concerns.
Badger Daylighting Corporation, which has multiple locations in the United States and Canada, is looking to move from Channahon to a larger site in Homer Township.
The company excavates or exposes buried infrastructure through a highly pressurized water and vacuum system and uses about 20,000 gallons of water per day, said Kevin North, general manager for Badger’s Upper Midwest region.
Residents said they were concerned about their water supply because neighboring homeowners use wells.
“Pumping industrial volumes of water from the source could drastically lower the water table for neighboring families, while simultaneously drawing existing surface contaminants deeper into our drinking water, ” resident Raymond Halper said. “I have a material concern about that. They are pulling the water for pumping. I’m pulling the water for my children to drink.”
Halper said he wanted provisions in place to ensure residents wouldn’t face adverse impacts.
Attorney Cass Wennlund, represents Badger, said the company is willing to make concessions for residents to alleviate their water concerns, including annexing into Homer Glen and tapping into Illinois American Water or getting its water off site.
County Board member Frankie Pretzel, the chair of the Land Use Committee, said committee members want something definitive in the plan so residents aren’t left wondering how their aquifers might be affected.
Residents also said rezoning will significantly affect homeowners in the Cedar Glen and Windmill Estates subdivisions and those along 159th Street between Gougar and Cedar roads.
The company is expected to park about 30 trucks on the property, most of which will be under roof, and the business is likely to generate 80 to 120 trips per day.
Resident Joyce Hale said a fleet-based trucking operation will add increased noise, diesel emissions and traffic next to residential neighborhoods and nearby schools. Most of the vacant land Badger is considering is now zoned as a residential use, she said.
“The applicant is asking the county to drastically change the zoning,” Hale said.
County Board member Judy Ogalla said the neighboring property, which houses a self-service storage facility, is zoned for industrial use because in 2022 it was the zoning classification needed for the storage facility to house boats and recreational vehicles.
She questioned that a more intensive industrial use than the Badger proposal might try to petition the county.
Resident Mark Gawron said local leaders have a vision for the 159th Street corridor that does not include an industrial area.
Homer Township Supervisor Sue Steilen said the self-storage facility and its zoning was opposed by local officials, who cautioned that it could create a domino effect for a more intense zoning than desired.
“You are going to create this industrial corridor that wasn’t planned by the community, the 40,000 people that live in (Homer Township),” Steilen said.
Badger officials said they would likely need only about 12.5 acres of the property for its business and would consider donating or selling the remaining portion to the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
“We are here as partners,” North said. “We want to be that good neighbor.”
Will County Board members asked Badger to work with the forest district during the next month on a land agreement.
Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said she wants to work with the company and potentially find it a better location.
The Homer Township location will provide more than 50 high paying union jobs, and there will be no contaminated materials hauled back to the site, according to Badger.
A legal objection filed with the county has triggered a 3/4 supermajority of County Board members to approve the project when it gets to the final stage.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
