Amazon moved one step closer to having a major footprint in Orland Park as the village’s plan commission voted 6-1 Tuesday night to approve the retail giant’s quest to build a 229,000-square-foot facility on the southwest corner of 159th Street and LaGrange Road.
The plan now must go before the village’s committee of the whole at 6 p.m. on January 19. If it is approved there, the board of trustees will take a final vote at 7 p.m.
Amazon is seeking to build a commercial development – primarily retail in nature, with a limited warehouse component supporting on-site operations – on 35 acres where the long-shuttered Petey’s II restaurant once stood.
“This is a retail community. This is a prime retail location,” said Plan Commissioner John Paul. “Whatever goes in that location will be big. If we were to tell Amazon ‘no’ then something else would come in there.
“This is a good option,” he said. “This is a well thought out project.”
Commissioner Kathy Fenton said she welcomed Amazon to the village with one caveat: “Make it aesthetically appealing. Make it look like more than just another box store.”
Commissioner Ed Schussler said Amazon’s proposal “complies with 99 percent of our requirements.”
Commissioner Daniel Sanchez, who cast the lone vote against the plan, said: “Overall, I think it’s an honor to be selected by Amazon to want to come to our town,” he said. “But I really have some concerns about the traffic volume this development will bring to an area that is already dealing with heavy traffic counts.”
Orland Park resident Jim Savage said while Amazon “is a great company, it is destroying the retail base of America.”
“Amazon will cannibalize the retail base of Orland Park,” he said.
Christine Lang, who said her family’s roots go back 150 years in Orland Park, said she supports Amazon coming into the village.
“I’m all for development and growth and generating new tax revenues.”
Amazon officials said the proposed development would function as a large-format retail location offering a wide range of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with accessory services and potential prepared-food options.
The limited warehouse component would support on-site operations rather than serve as a large-scale distribution center.
As part of the village’s ongoing planning for the 159th Street and LaGrange Road area, officials continue to evaluate the extension of Ravinia Avenue south to 161st Street, creating a direct connection to LaGrange Road while improving circulation throughout the corridor.
Mayor Jim Dodge has said that the projected sales tax from the proposed commercial development would more than cover the costs associated with Ravinia Avenue expansion, creating both fiscal and infrastructure benefits for the community.
Dodge said extending Ravinia Avenue could ultimately divert a significant portion of eastbound and northbound turning traffic away from 159th Street and LaGrange Road.
What about the property taxes to residents
Orland Township needs to do something about the rising costs for Consumers/Constituents! It’s always a sweet deal for the corporations and not for us. Property tax needs to go down! We already have a Costco with plenty of prepared food and a SuperTarget store. The last thing we need is an Amazon store On that corner. I’m sure Better options will present themselves for that corner. I am Strongly opposed!! Amazon is taking over everything and everywhere and they are hurting our smaller businesses. Please don’t do this!