The Downers Grove village council is debating a plan for a new Walgreen’s to be built in the southwest corner of town, a project opposed by neighbors and rejected by the village Plan Commission.

Under the proposal, the 15,000-square-foot Walgreen’s would be built in an unincorporated area at the northwest corner of 63^rd Street and Woodward Avenue.

Because the area is unincorporated, Chicago real-estate firm Draper and Kramer, working on behalf the pharmacy, asked the council to annex the property, consolidate a handful of residential lots and zone the area to allow commercial business.  They are also asking the council for a special use permit, which would allow a drive-through prescription pick-up window.

“First and foremost, I support this,” said Commissioner Sean Patrick Durkin, who said the village could bring in up to $100,000 a year in revenue.  “I see this as an economic opportunity for us to redevelop the north side of 63^rd Street when there’s a (nearby) shopping center that’s having financial difficulties.”

Durkin was the most outspoken in his support, but his sentiments were echoed to varying degrees by the other members of the council. The village Plan Commission rejected the proposal in January on a 7 to 1 advisory vote.

“Sometimes the Plan Commission recommends something and we agree with it, sometimes the Plan Commission recommends something and we disagree with it,” Mayor Martin Tully said. “Downers Grove was founded a long time ago and it is not a cornfield (anymore). We have to deal with a landlocked community … It almost requires some encroachment on residential areas.”

Residents appearing before the council on Tuesday presented a petition signed by an estimated 280 people, requesting the proposal be rejected.

The proximity to both Downers Grove South High School and Indian Trail Elementary would pose a risk to children walking to school, in addition to the degradation of property values and an increase in noise and traffic, they argued. Storm water flooding could also crop up, they say.

“By their own admission they say it’s going to add 1,300 (cars) driving in and out a day,” said Dee Gordon, of the 6200 block of Pershing Avenue.  “We’re concerned about safety because we have children walking to elementary and high school.”

An analysis  conducted by nearby residents concluded there are 28 pharmacies within a five-mile radius, with 18 pharmacies open within a three-mile radius. They asked if there was really need for another.  The underutilized Meadowbrook  Shopping Center across the street from the proposed location was also mentioned as a potential home for the store. There’s also a shuttered former Walgreen’s just a short distance away in Woodridge, they say.

Some area residents say they are concerned their neighborhood will end up looking like some of the older strip malls dotting Ogden Avenue.

“It’s apparent they only care about money, because if you drive down Ogden Avenue, it looks like garbage,” said Michelle Schelli, of the 6200 block of Pershing Avenue, who said she’s concerned the same future is destined for her neighborhood.

“Let’s fix what you’ve done and not destroy another neighborhood,” said Patty Gruber, also of the 6200 block of Pershing, who suggested the store could be put in an existing empty location.

Members of the village council said, before any plans move forward their traffic, safety and noise concerns must be addressed. They also noted developers have pledged to build a sidewalk along the north side of the road, where there currently isn’t one. Additionally a green-space buffer would be built between existing homes and the backside of the proposed store.

“This is a big deal. It’s a big change in the neighborhood. And I think change is sometimes met with resistance,” said Commissioner Geoff Neustadt.