Questions for the Forest Preserve District Regarding the Fleet Maintenance Facility in Blackwell Wildlife Preserve Area on Mack Rd.
The Need
1. Could you please provide a copy of the feasibility study that shows the need for this new Fleet Maintenance Facility and the associated future cost savings?
2. It seems that the growth rate of the Forest Preserve’s land acquisition does not correspond with the larger growth of the vehicle fleet size. Could you please explain this?
3. You have stated that “efficiency” is one of your major goals in relocating the current maintenance facility. Has the FP investigated partnering with the County Government that already has an existing large maintenance facility that may have spare capacity, or at least could be expanded at a more modest cost?
Traffic
4. Can you provide the traffic studies that must have been completed for both the short-term and long-term impacts along Mack Rd., including queuing at the Rt. 59 and Winfield Rd. intersections? Or have traffic studies not been undertaken?
5. Your website http://www.dupageforest.com/projects.aspx?id=5016 says you are planning on entering into a long-term agreement with other governmental agencies for use of the Forest Preserve re-fueling facilities. This is quite a broad statement. What other agencies are you considering? Have these additional traffic impacts been included in a traffic study? Does this sort of refueling activity seem appropriate for a “Forest Preserve?” Has the FP lost sight of its mission?
6. Your website also mentions several other “alternative fuels” besides compressed natural gas as a possibility for the Blackwell Mack Rd. site. Do you have plans for other refueling operations at this site? If so, this could turn our local neighborhood into a massive “industrial looking” area. Please tell us your long-term plans.
7. What are the load weight carrying capacities of Mack Rd.? Can it handle the load capacity of the “fleet” vehicles? The Township posted load limits are 5-tons on Mack Rd.
8. The maintenance of Mack Rd. is currently born by the unincorporated-Winfield Township taxpayers. Will the Forest Preserve be making an annual contribution to the additional maintenance of the local roads?
Environment
9. We understand that the CNG fueling station is only the 1st of 4 alternative fuel stations to be located at Blackwell Forest Preserve. Where are the remaining 3 stations to be located?
10. Can the FP provide the environmental impact study documents for both the current compressed natural gas refueling station and the proposed Fleet Maintenance Building off of Mack Rd? Will they be published on the Forest Preserve website and when?
11. The currently completed “Alternative Refueling Station” just south of the proposed Fleet Maintenance Facility desperately needs landscaping screening. Since the station sits on high ground, what are the plans to accomplish this?
12. The gate to the refueling station makes the whole complex look very industrial. What can the FP do to have this blend into the natural environment and into a residential area?
13. What are the contingencies for oil/gas and other contaminants that could emanate for the maintenance facility? As you know, local water wells needed to be capped due to the superfund clean-up site called Mt. Hoy.
14. What studies have been undertaken to determine the impact to McKee marsh, the wildlife, hikers, and other trail uses?
15. Large volumes of water currently flow from north of the Mack Rd. Blackwell area―where the current CNG station and proposed Fleet Maintenance Building are located―to the wetland/prairie area on the south side of Mack Rd. Water frequently spills over the street in heavy rains. This southern section of Mack Rd. borders residential homes using well water, e.g., Old Farm Lane, Lost Meadows Lane, Forestview Drive, Williams Road, and Oak Lane. The runoff from this Blackwell area flows southeast across Mack Road and is then funneled through a drainage ditch on the north side of Old Farm Lane back toward the DuPage River to the west. Any spill or overflow from contaminated liquids from this proposed facility will undoubtedly contaminate the homeowner’s wells in this area. Can you explain how you will prevent this?
16. A large building and associated traffic so close to McKee marsh will undoubtedly affect the birdlife nesting that the Forest Preserve so diligently and successfully cultivated. Has a study been done by an outside party to determine the affect on wildlife?
17. What other locations have you considered for this facility? When can you provide the studies?
18. It seems that a location in an industrial park would be better suited for such an operation rather than using precious Forest Preserve land that people voted to protect. Would you not agree?
19. Will you commit to placing the external building night-lights on motion sensors for the fuel station and the other existing buildings? The light pollution is already significant to residents along Bender Ln. and can be seen all the way to Purnell Road.
Safety
20. Since there are no fire hydrants in the area, what is your fire protection plan? This is especially important since any fire could proceed to the surrounding dry vegetation and onto the surrounding home lots. Please provide a certification from the surrounding Fire Protection Districts of Warrenville, Winfield, and West Chicago as to the acceptability of your plan.
Our DuPage County Government
21. Can you explain why the Forest Preserve does not have to follow the County Zoning and hold public hearings similar to other large developments when they are planned for a neighborhood? Without such protections it seems that the Forest Preserve District may present a threat to our rural environment just as the “Big Box” development community does!
22. It is obvious that the Forest Preserve has been planning this facility for years, yet it seems they have not involved the neighbors in the planning. The purpose of DuPage County Zoning Ordinances are to protect the “promise” made by the County to homeowners when they purchased property in a zoned area, i.e., that they would know what to expect, and to provide local input when a change is proposed. Can you explain why you have not involved the neighbors until recently when they posed questions to you?
