Balich and Fricilone argue against storage development in Homer Glen
A Will County committee will reexamine a proposal for a self-service storage facility to be built on just over 32 acres of vacant farmland after the village of Homer Glen and Homer Township objected to the plan.
Peter and Amy Katowicz, who own an outdoor, self-service storage facility in Volo, want to open a second Illinois location in the 15300 block of 159th Street, between Gougar and Cedar roads in Homer Township. The business would provide traditional drive-up and temperature controlled self storage and also areas to store boats and recreational vehicles.
The land is located in Homer Township, but it is on the border of Homer Glen and is in the village’s long-term plans. The Will County Board would have to change its zoning from agricultural to industrial for the storage facility to be built.
Melissa King, Homer Glen’s director of planning and zoning, said the village objects both to the industrial zoning and storage facility, which do not fit with the village’s vision for 159th Street. Village officials want the 159th Street corridor to host high quality commercial and residential properties that provide jobs and revenue for the town. The Homer Glen Village Board voted to file an objection to the plan last month.
King said if the area is zoned industrial, it could have a snowball effect among other vacant properties, which could develop more intense industrial uses. This could change the character of the land.
“This is in our planning boundaries,” King said. “We have limited area for economic growth and I think that it’s very important for our village to protect the areas we have left for high quality economic development.”
Both Will County Board members who represent Homer Glen object to the plan.
Minority Leader Mike Fricilone said he lives within walking distance to the proposed storage facility.
“This is an inappropriate use of land on 159th,” Fricilone said. “That road has just been improved by the state. It should be commercial. It should not be industrial. I’ll be voting against this. I don’t care what changes they make.”
Board member Steve Balich, who also serves as the Homer Township supervisor, said other land nearby could be zoned industrial if this project goes through. The Homer Township Board also objects to the proposal, Balich said.
“That whole corridor could be screwed up,” Balich said.
Balich said it doesn’t matter how the project would look. The primary issue is the industrial zoning, he said.
“It doesn’t matter if it was made of gold,” he said. “We don’t want it.”
Peter Katowicz said he would like to work with the county’s land use committee and work through some of the objections. He said the business does not have to be tied to the industrial zoning and would like to see if a solution could be reached.
He said the business would be a high end storage facility that does not generate a lot of traffic and would be used by the surrounding area.
“We are not interested in creating drama in the neighborhood,” he said. “We’d like to be good neighbors.”
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
