Plainfield Plan Commission Meeting - March 18, 2026

The Plainfield Plan Commission met on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Village Boardroom. The meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday but moved due to the primary election. Commissioners considered two major development cases: the Core5 Industrial project at the northwest corner of Johnson Road and Ridge Road (continued from March 3), and the Wheeler/Panattoni Industrial project at the northwest corner of Illinois Route 126 and Steiner Road. Both cases received unanimous favorable recommendations for annexation, rezoning, site plan review, and preliminary plat approval.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the March 3, 2026 Plan Commission meeting by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pam George (Cherry Road, 30 years) expressed concern about the public hearing notification signs: they remained parallel to the road and still showed the March 3 date, and many had fallen due to wind. Staff noted signs were posted as required and would consider updating for continuations.
• Peepas Terras (1998 Johnson Road, 65 years resident) expressed concerns about:
  • Traffic congestion on 143rd Street, noting that multiple warehouses are being built without adequate road capacity.
  • A statement he recalled from the mayor a year ago that industrial development west of Ridge Road would not occur 'in the near future,' which he feels has been contradicted.
  • Road maintenance on Johnson Road (potholes, crumbling edges) even with minimal truck traffic.
• Biff George (1378 Cherry Road, 30 years) questioned:
  • The cumulative impact of truck traffic from multiple unbuilt warehouses.
  • The need for a grade separation (overpass) over the railroad tracks on 143rd Street.
  • Staff's finding that the development would not alter the neighborhood's character, which he called 'false.'
• Eric Bernanke asked about pedestrian/multi-use path connectivity along 143rd Street east of Ridge Road. Staff confirmed funds are being collected from developments but the exact route is still undetermined. He also highlighted that Johnson Road (only 20 feet wide) is already crumbling from truck traffic and urged coordination between village, county, and township.
• Nick Baych noted that the proposed commercial lots along Ridge Road are about four times the size of the 'local business' designation in the comprehensive plan's future land use map, which he said runs contrary to the plan.

Development Report

• Staff reported that the Village Board recently approved the annexation and zoning for the Dunkin' Donuts anchored development at the northeast corner of U.S. Route 30 and 135th Street.

Discussion Items

Old Business: Case 2120-121925 – Core5 Industrial (Johnson Rd. & Ridge Rd.)

• The applicant, Liam Logan (Core5), presented a 1.2 million-square-foot industrial building on approximately 170 acres, plus four commercial outlots along Ridge Road. The industrial building would have 19.5% site coverage (low for the area). A 93-foot landscape buffer is proposed on the north side, exceeding the 60-foot code requirement. Existing tree lines on the west will be preserved and supplemented.
• Traffic study by Emma Alvers (Kimley-Horn) included 10 background developments and projected that the site's trips can be accommodated with planned improvements. Turn lanes on Johnson Road are proposed, though not warranted by volume.
• Staff (Jonathan Probe) supported all four requests, noting consistency with the trend of industrial development in the area (Midwest Warehouse, DHL, BP Trail, Trammel Crow, DSV).
• Commissioner questions addressed:
  • Johnson Road improvements (to be determined in annexation agreement, likely matching the three-lane cross-section of 143rd Street east of Ridge).
  • Truck circulation: all truck traffic enters via the easternmost access point, circulates counterclockwise, and exits the western access point; cars use the middle access to avoid mixing.
  • Future parking: only the truck courts will be built initially; the western trailer parking is shown as 'future' and will be screened.
  • Building architecture: commissioners requested a staggered roofline and enhanced landscaping to break up the 2,000-foot-long facade.
• Public hearing closed; all five subsequent motions passed unanimously.

New Business: Case 2122-011426 – Wheeler/Panattoni (Rt. 126 & Steiner Rd.)

• John Pagliari (Panattoni) presented a 1.2 million-square-foot industrial building on 75 acres. The design separates trucks (west side, entering from Rt. 126) from cars (east side, entering from Steiner Road). Over 500 feet of buffer exists between the building and residential properties across Steiner Road. A queue area prevents trucks from backing onto Rt. 126.
• Staff supported the requests, noting the site is a logical extension of village boundaries (adjacent to Trammel Crow development to the north and existing village territory).
• Commissioner comments focused on:
  • Aligning the eastern access point on Rt. 126 with the existing gas station's access (offset currently) to allow future full access if the road becomes village-controlled.
  • Enhancing the landscape buffer along Rt. 126, especially to screen loading docks, with undulating berms and varied plantings.
  • Improving building architecture with varying parapet heights and more glass on the south and east elevations.
  • Potential coordination with Trammel Crow for shared access on the west side.
• Public hearing opened and closed with no public comments.
• All four motions passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Core5 Industrial (Johnson/Ridge):
  • Public hearing closed (unanimous).
  • Recommended annexation as logical extension (5-0).
  • Recommended rezoning: Lot 1 to I-1 (Industrial), Lots 2-5 to B-3 (Highway Business) (5-0).
  • Recommended site plan review for Lot 1, subject to staff stipulations (5-0).
  • Recommended preliminary plat of Core5 Industrial Subdivision, subject to staff stipulations (5-0).
• Wheeler/Panattoni (Rt. 126 & Steiner):
  • Public hearing opened, no comments, then closed (unanimous).
  • Recommended annexation as logical extension (5-0).
  • Recommended rezoning from default R-1 to I-1 (5-0).
  • Recommended site plan review, subject to staff stipulations (5-0).
  • Recommended preliminary plat of Wheeler Farm Subdivision, subject to staff stipulations (5-0).
• Next meetings: April 7, 2026 (Plan Commission) at 7:00 PM; also Committee of the Whole Workshop on March 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM; Village Board Meeting on April 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM.