Plainfield Village Board Meeting – August 17, 2026

The Plainfield Village Board held a regular meeting on August 17, 2026. The meeting included oaths of office, proclamations, public comments on a proposed warehouse development, and action on a zoning amendment, annexation reconsideration, and various public works contracts.

Proclamations and Oaths

• New police officer Dylan Glass was sworn in; Commander Ziderman noted Glass is a Plainfield native and Army reservist who applied while deployed in Poland.
• National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September 2026): Proclamation cited a 1 in 78 lifetime risk, 21,001 new cases in 2026, and 12,450 deaths nationwide (770 new cases, 410 deaths in Illinois).
• Suicide Awareness Month: Proclamation noted suicide is the 12th leading cause of death among adults and the 3rd leading cause for ages 10-34; 48,000 deaths annually in the U.S., 132 per day (17.2% veterans).
• Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11, 2026): Marking 25 years since the 9/11 attacks; honoring victims and first responders.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of August 3 board meeting and executive session; bills and payable reports for August 17; cash and investment reports for July; legal fees for 143rd Street East Extension ($1,900 and $2,250); adoption of public works right-of-way regulations; MOU with Plainfield Township for EMA; ordinance increasing Class F liquor licenses for Babaki Creek Tavern. All items passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kim Hurley (Old Town South) requested an update on the Ottawa Street project. The mayor said staff is preparing a FAQ sheet and will hold another public meeting.
• Bill Nolan (Grand Park) opposed the Core Five warehouse expansion, challenging the applicant’s claims on traffic, property values, and safety. He argued increased property values are due to inflation, not industrial development.
• Andy Olsen (Grand Park) raised noise concerns, stating the developer’s claim of “no noise concerns” lacks data. He asked for acoustic screening and evaluation of peak impulse noises.
• Jennifer Church (Grand Park) urged the board to stand by its previous no vote, citing impacts on quality of life: truck noise heard through noise-canceling headphones.
• Elin Keller read a letter from her sister Greta Keller opposing reconsideration. Greta said the applicant misrepresented resident concerns and ignored peer-reviewed research showing warehouses can increase nitrogen dioxide pollution by 20%.
• David Renard (rural residential area) opposed the warehouse, stating the comprehensive plan process was predetermined and residential property values would decline. He argued that residents outside the village have no representation.
• A landowner at Plainfield and Ridge Road spoke in favor of development, stating that growth is necessary and that he should be allowed to develop his 4.4-acre property.
• Nick Eich (Auburn Lakes) opposed reconsideration, criticizing the applicant’s communication and noting the building’s elevation (FFE 709 feet) will make it visible above the hill.
• Mike Stegman (Grand Park) noted a site plan discrepancy: the applicant claims ingress/egress only off 143rd Street, but the plan shows a full access drive on Ridge Road.
• Patrick Lachlan (backs up to Plainfield Road) added that the building sits on a hill, amplifying visual and noise impacts.

Discussion Items

• Core Five Request for Reconsideration (Rott Farm Warehouse): Staff explained that a motion to reconsider must be made by a “no” vote. The board voted 6-1 (Trustee Wojowski opposed) to reconsider the previously denied annexation agreement. Then a motion to table the annexation ordinance passed 6-1. This preserves the application for further work with staff and residents; no final approval was granted.
• Corner Side Yard Fence Zoning Amendment: Staff proposed allowing 5-foot fences (50% encroachment) in corner side yards via administrative adjustment. Trustee Banucci moved to amend to allow up to 6 feet; the amendment failed 3-4 (Banucci, Paniker, Wojowski in favor; Keeper, Ruin, Sula, and Mayor opposed? exact tally was 3-3 with Mayor not voting? The motion failed). The original motion (5-foot height) passed 4-3 (Keeper, Ruin, Sula, Duchowski in favor; Banucci, Keeper? confusion in transcript, but stated as 4-3 in minutes). The board agreed to revisit the issue during the unified development ordinance process.
• Blue Stem Subdivision (Pulte Homes): A public hearing was held for the 91-unit single-family development at 119th Street and 248th Avenue. The proposal has a density of 2.25 units/acre, well below the comprehensive plan’s 7-8 units/acre. Discussion included park location (central, not adjacent to open space due to floodplain), trail connections to Plainfield North High School, and a custom one-acre lot. The board directed staff to prepare annexation ordinances (unanimous vote).
• Carriage Walk at 15022 S Bartlett Avenue: Owner Leif Hendrickson requested a certificate of appropriateness to reinstall a historic service walk in the public right-of-way. Staff recommended approval subject to a liability covenant. Trustee Banucci moved to delete the covenant requirement; that amendment passed 4-3 (Banucci, Paniker, Wojowski, Mayor in favor; Keeper, Ruin, Sula opposed). The amended motion to approve the COA without the covenant passed.

Public Works Reports

• Welcome Sign Project at Rt. 59 & Champion Drive: Awarded to Landworks Limited for $262,134 + $15,000 contingency (total $277,134). Passed 5-1 (Trustee Wachowski opposed). A $200,000 state grant offsets the cost. Also authorized a $2,150 engineering amendment with Baxter & Woodman (unanimous).
• Elevated Tank Construction Engineering: Authorized a work order with Christopher B. Burke Engineering for $119,700 to oversee construction of the water tower at 143rd Street and Plainfield-Naperville Road (unanimous).
• Salt Purchase: Due to not being picked up by the state program, the village purchased 2,500 tons of road salt from Midwest Salt for $289,825 ($115.93/ton). The board approved the purchase (unanimous).

Key Outcomes

• Proclamations and oaths of office approved.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• Core Five warehouse annexation was reconsidered and then tabled (6-1), allowing further negotiation.
• Corner side yard fence ordinance approved with 5-foot height (4-3).
• Blue Stem subdivision annexation ordinances authorized (unanimous).
• Carriage walk certificate of appropriateness approved without a liability covenant (4-3).
• Welcome sign contract (5-1), engineering amendment (unanimous), elevated tank contract (unanimous), and salt purchase (unanimous) all approved.
• The board adjourned to executive session to discuss pending litigation.