The members of the Will County Environmental Network stand in firm opposition to the development of the proposed NorthPoint project.
The plan for nearly 3,000 acres of industrial development will have a negative impact on the entire Will County region.
The members of the Will County Environmental Network do not support the current pre-annexation agreement that is slated to be voted on by the Joliet City Council on March 17. The pre-annexation agreement does not identify a clear path of the continuity needed, nor does the plan detail the costs to the environment and infrastructure. Surely, the council members deserve to see a more complete plan before voting.
Make no mistake: If approved, the project will impact the entire region.
Will County Environemntal Network members cite the need for more study before adding to the already overburdened infrastructure and creating even more gridlock on the roads leading into and out of Will County. Specifically, the resolution said:
- Local roads cannot handle the traffic that would be generated,
- Valuable agricultural ground would be used,
- The quality of life would be negatively impacted, and
- Open space next to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie would be lost.
The proposed closed loop system relys on a bridge over Route 53 and into Walter Strawn Drive–What NorthPoint fails to say is that no approvals for the bridge have been gained. What NorthPoint fails to say is that the pre-annexation agreement calls for exceptions to made to the closed loop.
Additionally, any north-south traffic directed to a proposed Manhattan truck by-pass running down Ridge Road to Hoff Road would in effect open the closed loop.
And, that points to the most necessary need for the Joliet City Council to avoid voting for the project on March 17—there is a need for a regional approach to mitigate any impacts AND THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE.
In speaking against the project in an open letter to the mayor and city council, the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie Alliance said, “Currently, Will County, in cooperation with CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning), are developing a comprehensive, regional, transportation plan, i.e. Moving Will County, that will hopefully address many, of the problems associated with warehouse complex development and associated truck and other vehicle traffic. I implore that you do not make plans to address NorthPoint’s proposal until AFTER the Will County/CMAP Moving Will County Study is completed and recommendations are made.”
The members of the Will County Environmental Network are happy to join a growing list of those opposed to the NorthPoint project:
TAXING BODIES AGAINST NORTHPOINT
Formal resolutions against NorthPoint Development’s Compass Business Park have been issued by the following:
Jackson Township
Manhattan Township
Elwood Community Consolidated School District 203
Manhattan School District 114
Elwood Fire Protection District
Formal Letters of Opposition to Compass Business Project have been filed by the Village of Elwood and the Village of Manhattan with Will County.
POLITICIANS AGAINST NORTHPOINT
Public statements or letters from public officials and candidates on the record in opposition of Compass Business Park:
Larry Walsh Sr. – Will County Executive
Nick Ficarello – Republican candidate for Will County Executive
Don Gould – Will County Board Member, District 6
Joe Van Duyne – Will County Board Member, District 6
Amanda Koch – Will County Board Member, District 2
Judy Ogalla – Will County Board Member, District 1
Rachel Ventura – Will County Board Member, District 9 and Democrat candidate for Illinois 11th Congressional District in the US House
Larry Walsh Jr. – Illinois State Representative, 86th District
Patrick Joyce – Illinois State Senator, 40th District
Philanise White – Republican candidate for Illinois 1st Congressional District in the US House
Sarah Gad – Democrat candidate for Illinois 1st Congressional District in the US House
Robert Emmons Jr. – Democrat candidate for Illinois 1st Congressional District in the US House
ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST NORTHPOINT
Openlands
Warehouse Workers For Justice
The Sierra Club – Petition against additional warehousing
Midewin Alliance – Open Letter to Joliet
Stone City VFW Post 2199 – Open Letter to Joliet
Wilmington VFW Post 5422
Manhattan American Legion Post 0935
Cheers to the Warriors – Open Letter to Joliet
Will County Sheriffs’ Department Deputies F.O.P. Labor Union
Cunningham Neighborhood Council
Preston Heights Neighborhood Council
Ridgeview Subdivision Association
Operation Care Package
K-9s for Veteran Warriors
Veterans Outreach Services of Illinois
Bishop Steven Evans & Leap of Faith Ministries
Network members point to the negative impact additonal truck gridlock and diesel pollution will bring to the area immediately adjacent to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and the Abraham Lincoln National Cementary.
For more information, interested persons may visit https://www.no2northpoint.com/
Will County Environmental Network 