A plan for an asphalt plant in Northbrook has crumbled.
Builders Asphalt LLC, which was pursuing the plant on Old Willow Road, sent a letter Monday to the village of Northbrook stating that amid growing opposition from nearby residents, the company was withdrawing its petition.
“While Builders Asphalt understands the concerns expressed we are not confident in our ability to overcome the opposition necessary to obtain approval,” said the letter, which is posted on the village’s Web site.
The plant was to be located in a pocket of Northbrook south of Willow Road that was surrounded by Glenview residential neighborhoods, including parts of The Glen.
Late last week, Glenview residents — and some Northbrook residents — began ramping up their opposition to the plan, sending e-mails critical of the proposal to Builders Asphalt, local media and officials in Glenview and Northbrook.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Gary Dubofsky, a Glenview resident who was part of the opposition. “We basically got exactly what we wanted. We made a lot of noise, and they’re quietly going away.”
In a preliminary review in early-August, Northbrook trustees allowed the proposal to go before the Northbrook Plan Commission, but many expressed reservations about its location.
Trustee Kati Spaniak, who had responded to Dubofsky’s e-mail to board members, said that while the plant could have had a visible impact to residents outside her jurisdiction, she had to take into account the best interests of Northbrook. The plant could have generated about $500,000 a year in revenue, according to the initial proposal.
“It’s a very interesting situation to be in,” Spaniak said.
Now that Builders Asphalt has pulled out, the vacant four-parcel site remains up for grabs. Currently, the properties are zoned for residential, but in its comprehensive plan, the village of Northbrook has identified them for potential light industrial uses.
No one else has proposed developing the site, said David Schoon, economic development coordinator and Assistant director of planning for the village of Northbrook. Because the four properties have different owners, any development could be a challenge to organize, he said.
Other light industrial and office uses surround the parcels, and Glenview residents who live west of the area said they have had issues with noise and odors from other businesses on Old Willow Road.
Dubofsky said he and other residents still have concerns about the vacant site, especially since Northrbook staff members have identified it for more light industrial development.
But, he said, residents have had some success in keeping the other noises and odors at a minimum, and they will continue to be attentive about ongoing issues.
“We’re not trying to make the businesses go away,” he said. “We’re just trying to stay on the enforcement front.”
