Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Planning and Zoning Commission for August 5, 2025
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.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Executive Committee Advances Dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for January 6, 2026
Monee Board Approves $1 Million Incentive Package to Renovate Hotels
Public Pushback Stalls Proposal to Waive Holidays for School Calendar
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Capital Improvements & IT Committee for January 6, 2026
Public Works Committee: $18.8 Million Contract Awarded for Lorenzo Road Bridge Over BNSF Railway
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee for January 7, 2026
Executive Committee: Relaxes Rules for Retiring Employee Proclamations
Lobbyist Updates: State Session Resumes; Transit Safety Concerns Raised
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for January 6, 2026
Capital Imp Committee: Facilities Director Reports on VAC Progress and Critical Health Department Elevator Repairs
‘Good Food For All’ Initiative Proposes Local Agricultural Asset Mapping for Will County
Public Works Committee Advances $3.2 Million Engineering Contract for Mills Road Reconstruction
Board Members Debate “Commitment to Truth” in Media Resolution