Wilmington OKs annexation of motorsports complex
By Mary Baskerville Correspondent December 24, 2012 8:58AM
Maps
Updated: January 26, 2013 6:15AM
Wilmington expanded last week with approval of an annexation agreement that brings Joliet Motorsports Park at 27950 Kelly Road and 304 Blodgett Road into the city limits.
The annexation proposal came to the city council with a unanimous recommendation for approval from the planning and zoning commission. Commissioner Rick Smith said the recommendation included some controls on traffic, dust, lighting and hours of operations.
Any future expansions would need to go through the entire site planning process, he said.
Smith also said the commission’s recommendations came after plenty of public comment during hearings.
He said the commission considered the idea that the annexation “puts a stake out there” providing an opportunity for the city’s future growth.
Nearby landowner John Katis spoke against the action. He said the existing 10-acre parcel is zoned agriculture and should remain as a buffer.
“It’s intolerable to be next to this,” he said.
The operation has been growing without the needed permissions, he said.
“We are going to object,” he added.
The motion to approve passed with Alderman Darla Neises voting no and Alderman Larry Hall absent.
