By Stephen Nelson
Concerned Citizens of Manteno filed a lawsuit in Kankakee County Court on December 22 in an effort to reverse a zoning decision approved by the village’s planning commission and the village board that would allow the Chinese-based company Gotion to build a lithium battery manufacturing plant on the former Kmart warehouse property.
The lawsuit that was served to officials at Manteno Village Hall on Tuesday, January 2, states: “This dangerous plant is only viable because the Village of Manteno Plan Commission approved in a five-minute meeting without any discussion of the findings of fact in opposition submitted by the plaintiff … a rezoning of the property the plant will sit on from I-1 [light industrial] to I-2 [heavy industrial]. It did this despite the rezoning violating the Village of Manteno Code, Village of Manteno Comprehensive Plan, and the Illinois Constitution and Statutes.”
The lawsuit also states, “To Protect their community and to stop this illegal rezoning and illegal plant, Plaintiffs bring this complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to enjoin the rezoning and the plant’s operation.”
The plaintiffs also seek a judge’s order that would force Manteno to rescind the zoning decision returning the property to light industrial. The suit also asks the court for several other remedies.

• A declaratory judgment that “the proposed use of the Gotion Plant will involve highly toxic chemicals and storage of dangerous materials outside the Gotion Plant” and is in violation of the village code.

• “The rezoning was unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable” and want the property reverted back to the light industrial designation.”

• “For permanent injunctive relief forbidding the granting/issuing of building permits and other permits necessary for the construction and operation of the Gotion Plant.”

• “For permanent injunctive relief enjoining operation of the Gotion Plant for use as a lithium-ion battery plant or any other industrial use that utilizes highly toxic materials.”

• “For permanent injunctive relief enjoining the use of lithium, NMP, or any other toxic or highly toxic materials at the Gotion Property.”

A court date for a hearing on the lawsuit has not yet been scheduled.