Bus Terminal Request Heading Back to Planning Commission

The decision whether Westway Coach can operate a bus terminal and dispatch center at 4951 Indiana Ave. is prolonged after trustees voted to send the request back to the planning and zoning commission.

Approved by the PZC last week, a local business owner after claiming that public hearing re-opened to present additional evidence, namely a traffic study, had not been properly noticed.

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Trustee Ed Young made the first motion to send the request back to the PZC.

"I don't want to approve it with the record that we have in front of us," he said.

McClure issued a statement at Wednesday's meeting via a proxy, resident Julie Schnell. McClure stated that his rights as a business owner "had been denied."

"Unless this is renoticed properly... I or my attorney will be presenting a lawsuit in DuPage County," Schnell read.

The letter went on to cite a lack of property valuation impact or  environmental studies, snow removal and fire protection plans, and benefit to Lisle citizens. It also alleges that speakers at were not allowed to cross-examine the petitioners.

Mayor Joe Broda asked village attorney Robert Bush to address the PZC's actions throughout the hearing process. Bush said it was clear to those present at the May hearing "that more evidence would be presented in June" concerning traffic issues.

Bush said trustees could choose to disregard the information presented in June and make a motion based on what was presented at the initial hearing, if they felt the evidence was sufficient.

"There is no reason to rely on a form complain when the process itself wasn't tainted in any way," commented Bush.

Property owner Mike Ciurek called the motion "a little bit of a curve ball." He mentioned that Westway would need to operate out of the space beginning in August, and the company may not be able to wait to go through the process another time.

"Obviously time is of the essence," commented Westway representative John Benish, Jr. Benish said he felt they had complied with village staff requests and are "trying to do exactly the right things to make sure we're a good neighbor."

The item is expected to appear on the PZC's July 20 meeting. To make an earlier decision, PZC would have to conduct a special meeting.