What’s Happening in the Village of Plainfield?

The Plainfield Village Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, April 2, at Village Hall, 24401 W. Lockport St.

The board will hold a public hearing on the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year Budget, followed by adoption of the budget for the Village of Plainfield for the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year.

Also up for discussion and possible action by the village board at Monday night’s meeting are several items that have been reviewed by the village’s planning department.

Agenda items are in bold; Patch has summarized the planning department staff’s reports in italics.

Agenda item: Seeking a motion to approve a special use ordinance to allow a drive-thru at the corner of Main Street and Route 59.

Applicant Carl Bryant is negotiating to lease a retail space to Dunkin Donuts at the location, which would require the construction of a drive-thru window at the southeast corner of the building.

In its report, the village planning staff states, “The proposed drive thru is consistent with the trend of development along Main Street based on the village’s comprehensive plan."

The report also states that staff “continues to get commercial inquiries about the potential of redeveloping some of the single-family homes along Main Street into commercial development;” and sees “nothing in the requested special use for a drive-thru that will inhibit the opportunity for future commercial development along this corridor.”

In recommending the special use to the board, the planning department  adds that “staff does not believe that there will be any negative impact on any of the adjacent properties.”

Agenda item: Seeking a motion to approve a sidewalk sale at Walmart for one weekend in April 2012

The Walmart at Route 59 and 127th Street is asking to be permitted to have an outdoor sale of merchandise on a sidewalk in front of the store either on April 13-15, 20-22 or 27-29. The sale would consist of nine rolling racks of apparel and two eight-foot tables of toys.

Agenda item: Seeking a motion regarding a request by Atlas Oil Company to maintain an outdoor sales display for mulch and other items at the BP AM/PM at the southwest corner of Route 59 and 135th Street.

Agenda item: Seeking a motion regarding a request for approval of a mobile hot dog vending business to operate in the Village of Plainfield.

Business owner Jeff Rice is proposing to operate a mobile hot dog cart business, "Mighty Dawg," to provide a quick food option at such locations as large employers, downtown events  and  park facilities that have no on-site concessions.

Staff reports specify that a mobile food-vending business is “not specifically identified as a permitted use in the zoning code.”  Seeking input and direction from the village board, the planning staff is asking board members to consider a variety of policy issues raised by the request, such as:

• Village policy and precedent regarding mobile food sales;
  
• Required approval by county health department(s);
  
• Park district policy regarding outside food vendors;
  
• Limitations by downtown event organizers;
  
• Competition with existing restaurants, which have significantly higher overhead costs; and
  
• Verification by the vendor that just as established businesses do, sales, food and beverage taxes would be collected and paid.

Update: To view Monday's agenda, go to http://www.plainfield-il.org/government/documents/VB4.2.12.pdf.