Committee Rejects Rezoning for Fencing Company in Joliet Township

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025

Article Summary: Citing incompatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhood, the Will County Land Use and Development Committee unanimously denied a request to rezone a 5.18-acre property on Manhattan Road for a new fencing company headquarters.

Joliet Township Rezoning Key Points:

• The committee voted 4-0, with one abstention, to deny a map amendment that would have rezoned two parcels at 501 Manhattan Road from R-3 Single-Family Residential to C-4 Highway Commercial.

• Applicant John Keefe Jr. intended to demolish an existing house and build an office and supply building for his fencing company.

• Seven community members objected, raising concerns about traffic, safety, property values, and setting a precedent for commercial development.

• Both county staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denial of the request.

JOLIET, IL — A proposal to rezone a residential property in Joliet Township for a commercial fencing company was unanimously rejected by the Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday, November 6, 2025, following strong opposition from neighboring residents.

The committee voted 4-0, with one member abstaining, to recommend denial of a request from owner John Keefe Jr. to change the zoning of two parcels at 501 Manhattan Road from R-3 Single-Family Residential to C-4 Highway Commercial. The applicant intended to build an office and a small warehouse for his third-generation fencing business.

Applicant Tim Ryan and owner John Keefe Jr. argued the site was a “perfect fit,” pointing to nearby industrial and commercial properties, including a large commercial building directly across Manhattan Road. “The only thing separating the two is the road,” Keefe said. He stated his plan would be an improvement over the current “eyesore” property, which includes a dilapidated house, and that the new buildings would be set back from the road and largely hidden by trees.

However, residents from the adjacent Sugar Creek subdivision spoke out against the plan. Richard Welch, a 40-year resident, cited “terrible” traffic on Manhattan Road and safety concerns for children at bus stops. “Once you change into a commercial lot, you’re not going to change it back,” Welch said. “It is not good for the community.”

Other residents described the proposal as “haphazard zoning” that would compromise neighborhood growth and quality of life. Committee member and area resident Denise Winfrey agreed, stating, “It is not a good spot for commercial property.”

Committee Chair Frankie Pretzel acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but ultimately sided with the residents and staff recommendations. “What’s hard about this one is we are looking to rezone from residential to commercial… it changes the whole area,” Pretzel said before voting no. The recommendation for denial now moves to the full County Board.