Joliet board delays decision on CarHop facility
By Bob Okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com February 17, 2012 1:00PM
A special-use permit is being sought to locate a CarHop dealership where Cheli's Restaurant and Pancake House was at 700 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet, as seen Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
Updated: March 20, 2012 8:13AM
JOLIET — A controversial vote on CarHop, the used car dealership franchise for people with bad credit, has been delayed until March.
The Joliet Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday tabled a vote on the CarHop planned for a vacant restaurant site at 700 W. Jefferson St.
CarHop representatives at the meeting would not comment on why they wanted the vote tabled. But Kendall Jackson, the city’s director of planning, said he’s been told by company representatives that they are collecting letters of support.
“I think they’re collecting letters of support from communities that they’re already established in, and I guess it’s going to take another month to do that,” Jackson said.
The plan is opposed by two neighborhood groups: the St. Pat’s Neighborhood Association and the Cathedral Area Preservation Association.
Both groups have questioned the company’s lending practices and have characterized it as an undesirable business.
Neighborhood groups in the city were instrumental in blocking pawn shops and cash-for-gold stores last year.
Carol Ann Heinemann, president of the St. Pat’s group said CarHop “is like another cash-for-gold place. They’re not going to do any improvements to the property. If there’s going to be a plan to improve Jefferson Street, that will not attract good businesses.”
The CarHop site is in the St. Pat’s neighborhood on Jefferson Street across from the Cathedral Area.
CarHop representatives spoke with both neighborhood groups in the past and wanted another meeting with the Cathedral Area Preservation Association but were turned down.
CarHop representatives at the zoning board meeting referred questions to the company’s corporate office in Minnesota. The company did not respond to an e-mail seeking a comment on the Joliet situation.
Zoning board Chairman Ed Hennessy said he would not expect the board to wait past March to vote on the matter, which was also tabled in January.
“This is the second time it’s been tabled, but the next time I hope we have all the facts in line and will be able to vote on it,” Hennessy said. “I don’t think there should be any extensions after that.”
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