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.
Latest News Stories
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees for February 18, 2026
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Executive Committee for February 11, 2026
Advisory Committee Debates Rigor of Online Summer School Options
Group Presents Allegations of 2024 Voter Roll Errors to County Board
Will County Board Advised on Strict “Judicial” Role Ahead of Landfill Expansion Application
Ad-Hoc Committee: Bath House Regulations Updated; Removes 60-Day Licensing Window
Land Use Committee Rejects Shorewood Solar Farm Despite 25-Year Lease Offer
Trustees Renew Federal Lobbyist Contract Following $800,000 Funding Win
Executive Committee Advances $28.7 Million BNSF Bridge Project for Lorenzo Road
Land Use Committee: ‘Clean Fill’ Proposal Stalls After Unauthorized Tree Removal Sparks Environmental Concerns
Contracts Approved for New West Principal and District Technology Director
ALEC urges states to adopt ‘light-touch’ AI regulation
