BURR RIDGE, IL – A developer is making the case for a large commercial development in Burr Ridge, which has drawn opposition from a village advisory committee.
This week, Chicago-based Bridge Industrial said it launched a website for the development and sent out postcards to residents with the link to the site.
In an email to Patch, a Bridge spokesman said the company wanted to make residents aware of its proposal and the benefits.
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Bridge plans to develop the site of the now-closed CNH Industrial plant at 6900 Veterans Boulevard. The Plan Commission set its first public hearing on the project for Jan. 20.
The website, called “Invest in Burr Ridge,” said the project would be “recapturing economic opportunity from the vacant CNH industrial property, promoting environmental sustainability and returning significant tax dollars to local schools along with a list of broader community benefits.”
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Bridge said the seven commercial buildings would not be a trucking hub or a big box store. The project, the company said, would make investments to improve traffic flow, strengthen infrastructure, create new public spaces, improve flood control, reduce noise pollution and bring millions in taxpayer savings.
As for traffic, Bridge said it would pay for a Veterans Boulevard extension and make $5 million in improvements to ease traffic flow and lessen disruptions.
The firm said 20 acres of the 110-acre site would be for new open space and walking trails. Also, Bridge said it would contribute to the construction of a new public works building for the village. Doing so, Bridge said, would save Burr Ridge taxpayers $12 million in construction costs in addition to the land donation.
In October, most members of the village’s advisory CNH committee said the project would hurt surrounding neighborhoods. Some said housing would be a better choice.
Committee members noted the development has been described as light industrial. But they questioned that characterization. They said the plan is for around-the-clock truck traffic, which would disturb the area.
In an email to a resident Wednesday, Village Administrator Evan Walter said Burr Ridge was not involved with Bridge’s website or the mailers.
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“The Village did not provide any proprietary data, personal information, or the like to Bridge to assist them in this endeavor,” Walter said in an email. “Additionally, the statements, claims, and/or representations made on the Invest in Burr Ridge website are those made by Bridge Industrial and were not authored nor endorsed by the Village.”
Walter said the village would mail a notice to residents next week about the Jan. 20 hearing. The document would be on the village’s letterhead, and the notice would be posted on the village’s website, he said.
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