MM_011917

mokenamessenger.com News
the Mokena Messenger | January 19, 2017 | 3
Mokena Village Board
Residents wary of auto repair shop
YOUR SEARCH BEGINS AT
Jon DePaolis
Freelance Reporter
Tempers flared and tensions
were high Jan. 9, as the
Village of Mokena Board of
Trustees heard a special use
permit request from an automotive
repair shop interested
in relocating to Mokena.
Rennology Motor Sport
services European vehicles
and is seeking to move its
Oak Forest location to the
Corporate Corridors South
Business Park, 8901 W.
192nd St. Unit A, in Mokena.
Economic and Community
Development Director Alan
Zordan said that vehicle repair
services require a special
use permit in the I-1 Light Industrial
zoning district.
The business is located
near the Tara Hills subdivision.
Zordan said the nearest
single-family home to
the business is about 210
feet away, while the nearest
townhome is 260 feet away.
While there were no concerns
from the public at an
Oct. 17 conceptual meeting,
according to Zordan, residents
turned out Nov. 17 at a
Planning Commission meeting
to cite objections to the
project. The Planning Commission
members voted 7-1
to recommend the Village
Board approve the special
use permit.
“I’d like to point out that
they do not do any body
work and no painting in this
facility, and their hours of
operation are typically Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m.-5
p.m.,” Zordan said.
He added there was a
meeting that took place on
Dec. 20 between some of
the affected residents and
Village staff and the mayor.
Coming out of that meeting,
some of the restrictions the
residents wanted the board
to impose on the special
use permit were: the garage
doors on the east side be
Round it up
A brief recap of action at the Jan. 9 meeting of the Mokena
Village Board.
•During the Consent Agenda portion of the evening,
trustees voted 5-0 to approve a liquor license
ordinance amendment for the former location of
Scrementi’s Restaurant, which recently closed. Balagio
Ristorante and Banquets is planning to open at that
location sometime in February.
•During her comments to the Village Board, Clerk
Patricia Patt mentioned that NuWay will pick up
Christmas trees on a resident’s regular refuse day
throughout the entire holiday season.
•Village Administrator John Tomasoski mentioned
during his comments to the board that the Village Hall
can be utilized as warming center during the winter.
Residents who are in need should call the police
nonemergency number at (708) 479-3911.
•Trustees also voted 5-0 to approve a two-year
contract with Beary Landscaping for grass mowing
and maintenance of Village-owned properties for the
2017 and 2018 seasons in the amount of $139,320 —
$69,660 each year.
closed by 5 p.m. each day;
that the overhead doors on
the south end be closed at
all times, unless a delivery is
being made or in event of an
emergency; no overnight or
outdoor storage of vehicles;
and any road testing of vehicles
be done on 191st Street,
instead of 192nd Street.
Richard Swann, owner of
Rennology, attended the Jan.
9 board meeting and said he
found it a little “distasteful”
that staff met with the residents
without him.
That immediately drew
a sharp rebuke from Mayor
Frank Fleischer.
“It’s their life,” Fleischer
said. “We had to [find out]
what their concerns were.
There was absolutely no reason
for you to be at that meeting,
Mr. Swann. We didn’t sit
there and throw darts at you,
and, in fact, we stood up for
your business. But these are
our residents. They come before
your business, so please
understand that.”
Swann said he believes the
proposals by the residents
were too restrictive.
“The reason we are moving
from Oak Forest to Mokena
is because we want to
park all of our vehicles inside
of the building,” Swann
said. “The building [in Mokena]
is substantially sized,
and right now [in Oak Forest],
we have issues with
people breaking into vehicles
parked outside.”
He also said if a customer
were to drop off a vehicle
overnight, he would not be
able to stop that customer.
Swann also challenged
the board to find an alternative
route the business could
use to road test vehicles that
doesn’t include 192nd Street.
He said that is the only way
to access 191st Street, and if
there is a restriction against
him using 192nd Street and
he were to get in any sort of
accident on that road, his insurance
would not cover it.
“The residents … would
have you believe that we are
attempting to break the land
speed record, set an amaz-
Please see VILLAGE, 4
• Find Your Dream Home
• Search ALL Foreclosures & Short Sales
• Find Out How Much Your Home Is Worth
• Current Neighborhood Sales Data
DAVID J COBB
708.205.COBB(2622)
Phone: 815.485.5500 • david@davidjcobb.com