Village of Oswego Regular Village Board Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Village of Oswego Board convened for its regular meeting on October 20, 2026. The meeting included a business recognition, appointments to the Economic Development Commission (EDC), a public forum, approval of routine items, the continuation of a public hearing on the Hummel Trails Annexation Agreement, and the approval of a special use permit for a self-storage facility. All trustees were present except Trustee Novi.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the October 6, 2026, Committee of the Whole and Regular Village Board minutes.
• Approved an ordinance amending the liquor code to decrease the Class C liquor license for Shu's Sushi Bar & Grill Inc.
• Approved a resolution authorizing a task order with Robinson Engineering for geotechnical services for the new Public Works facility.
• Approved the Bill List dated October 20, 2026, in the amount of $4,981,697.76.

Recognitions & Appointments

• Business of the Month: President Kaufman recognized Air Dynamics Heating & Cooling as the October 2026 Business of the Month. Cassie Perullo accepted the award. The business was noted for over a decade of service in Oswego and sponsoring local events such as Prairie Fest, Christmas Walk, and youth sports.
• EDC Appointments: The Board unanimously approved the appointments of Mary Jo Wenmouth and Joseph Jackson to the Economic Development Commission for terms expiring April 30, 2028.

Public Comments

• Jason Peterson (Kendall County Board Member, Highway Committee Chair): Expressed appreciation for the Village Board's service. Offered to collaborate on county highway safety issues and needs.

Old Business

• Hummel Trails Annexation Agreement (Fifth Amendment): The Board unanimously voted to continue the public hearing on the Fifth Amendment to the annexation agreement for Hummel Trails Neighborhoods 5-9 to the November 17, 2026, Village Board meeting.

New Business: Self-Storage Facility Special Use Permit

• Proposal: A request for a special use permit for a self-storage facility on 7.5 acres at the southwest corner of Lewis Street and Station Drive.
• Staff Recommendation: Rod, representing staff, explained the petitioner revised the plan after a previous denial. The new plan concentrates 519 climate-controlled single-story storage units on the rear 5.7 acres, reserving 1.8 acres of frontage along Station Drive for future hotel or retail development. Staff recommended approval, noting the frontage is sufficient for a hotel and the site is not ideal for standard retail due to its depth and location off the main road.
• Petitioner Presentation (Phil McAllister): Described the facility as fully fenced, gated, and climate-controlled with extensive security cameras. He noted common operating hours would be 6 AM to 10 PM.
• Board Discussion & Positions:
  • Trustees asked detailed questions about the facility's design, security, and operational specifics.
  • Trustee Torres expressed concern about the proposed six-foot fence height near a planned residential community, worrying it could be too easy to climb, creating a safety and security risk. He requested a taller or less climbable fence. He also raised a safety concern about the retention pond on the property.
  • Trustee Hughes questioned whether a hotel could reasonably be built on the 1.8-acre frontage. Staff and the petitioner stated the space is adequate.
  • Multiple trustees inquired about the landscape buffer along the residential boundary. Staff confirmed it would be a partial, not full, screening buffer, with more intensive planting on the west side.
  • Trustee Koenig asked about the revenue comparison between retail (which generates sales tax) and self-storage. Staff stated self-storage generates no significant sales tax. The petitioner acknowledged the site has been vacant for a long time and that this proposal represents an effort to activate it.
• Vote: A motion to approve the special use permit carried unanimously by a roll call vote (Trustees Hughes, Cooper, Koenig, McCarthy Lang, Torres all voted yes).

Trustee Reports & Announcements

• Trustees praised Kelly's presentation on community events and the success of the lantern parade and night market.
• Trustees strongly encouraged voter turnout, noting early voting is available at Village Hall through October 28, and Election Day is November 3.
• Reminders were given for the upcoming budget workshop, community coffee event on November 7 (topic: village finances), and Halloween trick-or-treat hours (4-8 PM).
• President Kaufman also reminded the public about the budget workshop and community coffee, and shared a personal note about his wedding anniversary.