A large plot of land in Joliet was slated to become homes before the Great Recession hit, and now owners of the 138.5-acre parcel along Route 53 want to annex the land under industrial zoning. According to The Herald-News, the owners say there is no longer a need for new homes in the area. Residents, however, are concerned adding more warehouses will impact their quality of life.

The plot of land up for discussion is located at Route 53 and Breen Road and is already in a warehouse corridor in the south part of Joliet. While the southwest corner of the intersection was previously designated as residential and commercial, a representative of the landowners told the commission that it’s just not suited for that kind of development anymore.

Residents attended a City Council meeting earlier this month during which the Plan Commission voted 4-4 on the plan, sending it to the Joliet City Council.

Joliet’s Southside Comprehensive Plan was created during the housing boom and has the area’s designation as residential. Residents argue that under that plan they expect their community to grow in a certain way and redesignating it as industrial is not what they were promised.

One major concern for the development of the industrial property is the increase locals will see in semi trucks driving through the community. Route 53 and the Interstate 80 interchange is already considered Will County’s most dangerous.  

“I’m all for development,” Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr said at the meeting. “But we’ve got to do it in a systematic way so that we have the development, but we also have the citizens get the quality of life they expected when they purchased their homes.”

A representative of the family who owns the property said it will be marketed for one or two warehouses, but as of yet there are no specific companies lined up for the space.