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.
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Rich Township Edges Crete-Monee in 10-9 Conference Thriller
Crete-Monee Offense Powers 18-3 Rout of Rich Township
Access Will County Dial-A-Ride Reports Massive Growth After Consolidating Paratransit Services
Crete-Monee School Board Advances $17 Million Abatement for Ongoing Capital Projects
Legislative Committee Advances Resolution Opposing Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act
Commission Approves Massive Lake Michigan Water Infrastructure Project for Troy Township
Committee: Capital Improvements Committee Weighs $300 Million Options for Downtown Joliet Campus
Rich Township Offense Powers Past Crete-Monee, 21-4
Crete-Monee Offense Powers 18-8 Victory Over Rich Township
State Legislative Update: Housing Mandates, Mega Projects, and Data Centers Prompt Local Control Concerns
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for May 5, 2026
Committee Advances Nearly $212,000 in Road and Facility Contracts for Jackson Township and Monee
