Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Planning and Zoning Commission for August 5, 2025

August 9, 2025/
Spread the love

The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission backed two controversial projects at its August 5 meeting, unanimously approving a large-scale landscaping business on a residential lot in DuPage Township despite strong staff objections, and narrowly rezoning nearly 14 acres in Joliet Township for a truck repair facility over the protests of a neighboring resident. Both decisions highlighted the ongoing tension between industrial growth and residential character in unincorporated areas. For more information, please see our full coverage of the landscaping business approval and the truck repair facility rezoning.

The commission also greenlit two separate requests for restaurants in Frankfort Township to add liquor service for video gaming and granted a variance for an oversized residential garage in Joliet Township against staff advice. Details on these and other items are below.

Frankfort Restaurants Get Go-Ahead for Liquor, Gaming: The commission unanimously approved special use permits for two Frankfort Township restaurants to serve alcohol. Kismet Restaurant on West Lincoln Highway and Dimitri’s Best Food on South Harlem Avenue both sought the permits to become eligible for state video gaming licenses. Staff recommended approval in both cases, and no objectors spoke against the requests. The recommendations will now go to the full Will County Board for final consideration.

June 17 Minutes Approval Tabled: Action on the minutes from the June 17, 2025, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was postponed. After some commissioners indicated they had not had a chance to fully review them, the board agreed to table the vote until its next meeting, which is scheduled for August 19.

Commissioner Gugala to Resign: It was announced that Commissioner Matthew Gugala is resigning from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Chairman Houston noted Gugala was a “very good commissioner” and lamented that it can take a long time to replace commissioners, leaving the body understaffed. Gugala was not present at the August 5 meeting.

More Stories
Weather Full forecast →
Today Jun 12
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
87° 61°

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

💨 15 mph 💧 17%
Data: National Weather Service • Updated Jun 13, 10:26 AM Full Forecast →
Site Sections

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

City taxpayer burden swells, as Chicago pension debt rises

City taxpayer burden swells, as Chicago pension debt rises

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers now face unfunded debt from its municipal, laborers, police, fire and teachers’ pensions that...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees for August 2025

Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees Meeting | August 2025 The Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees made significant financial decisions during its regular meeting on...
Poll: Voters like candidates supporting war on Alzheimer's

Poll: Voters like candidates supporting war on Alzheimer’s

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Republican congressional candidates are more likely to win competitive districts if they support the war on Alzheimer’s, according to a new poll in California, Arizona,...
U.S. LNG exports at new record in September on strong Louisiana shipments

U.S. LNG exports at new record in September on strong Louisiana shipments

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square U.S. LNG exports hit a record high in September at 9.4 million metric tons, up from a previous record 9.3 million metric tons in August,...
Conservatives push Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger

Conservatives push Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of conservative and free-market groups is urging federal regulators to approve the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, saying the deal...
Hamas agrees to release hostages; demands further negotiations

Hamas agrees to release hostages; demands further negotiations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After an ominous warning from President Donald Trump, Hamas has reportedly agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages; however, they have yet to agree to...
Report: Bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment policy

Report: Bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment policy

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A new study reveals strong bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment, yet only 16 states have strong laws enabling it. The report by Reason Foundation,...

WATCH: U.S. military strikes another suspected drug boat, killing four

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the U.S. military destroyed a fourth suspected drug boat on Friday carrying enough drugs to kill tens of thousands of Americans....
'End the political idiocy': Republicans lambast Dems for tanking funding bill again

‘End the political idiocy’: Republicans lambast Dems for tanking funding bill again

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The ongoing government shutdown will span at least five days as U.S. senators depart for the weekend after voting down both short-term funding options for...
Des Moines Public School system hired superintendent with extensive criminal history

Des Moines Public School system hired superintendent with extensive criminal history

By Bethany Blankley reporterThe Center Square The Des Moines Public School Board hired a Guyanan national who had been living in the U.S. illegally for years and has an extensive...
Pro-life group calls FDA’s approval of generic abortion pill ‘unconscionable’

Pro-life group calls FDA’s approval of generic abortion pill ‘unconscionable’

By Tate MillerThe Center Square A pro-life organization called the FDA’s approval of the generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone “unconscionable,” stating that abortion is the leading cause of...
USDOT puts $2.1 billion of taxpayer funds for CTA under review

USDOT puts $2.1 billion of taxpayer funds for CTA under review

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than $2 billion in federal taxpayer infrastructure funding granted by the Biden administration for Chicago Transit...
No UPCODE Act could be part of shutdown solution … and more

No UPCODE Act could be part of shutdown solution … and more

By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Days into the federal government shutdown, health care funding is perhaps the key issue in talks to end the partisan stalemate. A...
Health care policy remains sticking point in Senate's govt shutdown talks

Health care policy remains sticking point in Senate’s govt shutdown talks

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square It’s day three of the government shutdown, and U.S. lawmakers are no closer to a government stopgap compromise, with both parties believing they’ll win the...
ICE arrests 9 Chileans linked to South American theft group operating in NJ

ICE arrests 9 Chileans linked to South American theft group operating in NJ

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Newark officers have arrested nine Chileans linked to a South American Theft Groups (SATG) operating in New Jersey. ICE Newark, working...