Accompanied by jeers from residents, trustees have decided to resurrect a previously dead proposal to build two auto dealerships at Ogden Avenue and Oakwood Drive.
Trustees split 3-3 on whether they would allow auto dealer Bob Rohrman a special use permit to build two auto dealerships on an 8.8-acre site at the intersection’s northwest corner. Mayor James Addington cast the deciding vote to allow Rohrman the dealership.
Rohrman will move his Toyota of Westmont dealership, 276 Ogden Ave., to the new site. He will also add another store to the new site.
“We have got to give the petitioner an answer tonight, or we will lose a valuable source of income for the village,” Addington said shortly before he cast the tie-breaking vote Monday. “We have to think of what is good for the entire village.”
For more than 500 nearby residents, who live near the site in the Oakwood subdivision and the Americana Health Center, however, the plan’s approval was a disappointment because of their concerns about light and noise pollution. Residents successfully battled several years ago to keep a Lexus dealership off the property, and swore to fight twice as hard to keep two dealerships off the same site. In addition to increased traffic and decreased safety and property values, residents said they worried about the noise and light pollution the dealership would add.
Some of the residents’ concerns will be met under the new plan, said Trustee Dick Busse. In addition to bans on outdoor loudspeakers, test drives in nearby residential areas, a body shop, a separate used-car dealership, elevated auto displays and inflatable advertising, Rohrman must erect a fence and sound barrier to buffer residential areas. Rohrman must also help find developers for the remaining 13.2 acres surrounding his parcel and must begin construction within one year or the special use permit will be voided.
Trustees Anthony Puccillo, William Rahn and Busse said they felt approving the plan was the wisest move, but residents said they were not comforted.