Plan Commission approves Gas and Wash PUD change for driveway at 16664 Weber Road

The Crest Hill Plan Commission voted unanimously May 15 to recommend approval of a planned-unit-development amendment for the Gas and Wash site at 16664 Weber Road, forwarding the measure to City Council for final consideration on Monday, May 20.

Interim City Planner Maura Ragoni told the commission the request (case PUD-24-1-5-1) would expand the existing commercial PUD by about 0.84 acres immediately west of the operating Gas and Wash to allow permanent driveway improvements after construction delays tied to a pipeline crossing. "They determined that it would not be resolved in the immediate future," Ragoni said, describing coordination problems with the pipeline along Division Street and the need for an interim but paved access connection to the north–south access road.

Ragoni said the proposed drive would be 36 feet wide, constructed of asphalt with curb and gutter, include lighting and landscaping, and be sited westward to minimize interference with turn lanes on Division Street. She emphasized the commission's approval would be conditional and not final for the driveway's permanent location or configuration: final engineering, landscape and photometric plans and plat/easement recordation must be completed, and any future reconfiguration required by adjacent development would be the responsibility of the adjacent site's developer.

Troy Piong, a representative of Heidner Properties and the owner of the adjacent land, was sworn in and said he had "nothing else really to offer new" and confirmed the applicant understands and agrees to the conditions. Commissioners raised operational concerns including the temporary gravel access's potholes and ongoing drainage work; Ragoni and Piong said drainage work is underway and that signalization changes remain a coordination matter with Will County DOT.

A resident, Arthur Glugowski of Gillibrie Drive, testified under oath that runoff and flooding have worsened on McGilvary Drive and are reaching his property, and he asked whether planned ponds and screening would be completed before further work. "The flooding on Mcgilvary keeps getting worse and worse because the runoff is actually coming into . . . my property," Glugowski said. Ragoni said she would follow up with engineers and the city attorney and exchange contact information with the resident to address specific site concerns.

The commission voted to approve the B-3 special use and the major PUD change contingent on the six conditions read into the record by Ragoni (including requirement of final engineering approval, recordation of plats and easements, expansion of covenants or maintenance obligations for the new drive, and a notation that a green space area is not buildable in its current configuration). Commissioner Jan Platao moved for approval; Commissioner John Stanton seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous.

The commission's action is a recommendation only; the City Council is scheduled to hear the case on Monday, May 20. If the council approves the PUD amendment and the associated plats/easements are recorded, the interim paved drive will replace the temporary gravel access and become subject to the maintenance covenants required by the commission's conditions.