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player ready...The Village Board has approved construction of a new Aldi food discount store, despite objections from some residents.
“What we don’t need at the gateway of our town is an Aldi,” resident David Alm told trustees Monday night.
But the board voted 5-1 to allow construction of the store at the new Southmoor Commoms development on the southeast corner of 131st Street and La Grange Road. Trustee Kathleen Fenton vote against it.
Residents, including some from nearby Palos Park, said they would have preferred to see a more upscale grocery store at the site.
But trustees said the discount chain provides a needed alternative for many residents on fixed incomes.
Trustees said the village could also face a lawsuit if they denied a project that met all village codes and ordinances.
“I get e-mails from people saying put the Aldi somewhere else, but we don’t have the authority to that,” said Trustee Edward Schussler.
Village President Daniel McLaughlin said officials want to draw an upscale restaurant to the retail development.