Plainfield vacates street near proposed church
By Madhu Mayer Correspondent December 24, 2012 9:56AM
Updated: January 27, 2013 6:20AM
Residents who live near a proposed church in Plainfield received an early Christmas present last week when the Plainfield Village Board approved vacating a street in their neighborhood.
The board OK’d vacating Cedar Drive west of Ridge Road, east of White Pine Way and north of Grand Park Boulevard as part of the conditions for site plan approval for the Church of Latter Day Saints. Planner Jonathan Proulx said the church has full access to Ridge Road and the secondary access from Cedar Drive is not needed.
“Furthermore, during the approval process for the church, adjacent residents requested eliminating this access point to avoid the potential for cut-through traffic,” he said.
During a public hearing for annexation and approval of church plans last year, Grande Park residents expressed concerns about possible cut-through traffic from church-related trips using Cedar Drive. In fact, Matt Moodhe, an attorney representing the homeowners association, stated that residents have serious reservations about the impact the church would have on the community, such as traffic and parking lot lighting.
Resident Jan Brownberg at the time told the village board that she and her neighbors are concerned about the current condition of the street and additional traffic making it worse.
Illinois municipal code does allow for public street closures if there is no longer a need for the right-of-way and if such action would be at the best interest of residents. The location of the street vacation is within Grande Park Neighborhood 12.
Trustee Jim Racich commended church officials and their new neighbors on reaching an agreement that benefits both parties.
