To avoid conflict of interest, Mayor Terry D’Arcy recused himself from a vote for rezoning of land slated for residential development.
Mayor D’Arcy is part owner of land builder DR Horton who wants to build 120 homes on 44 acres. The vacant land is at 2200 Essington Road, which is next to the D’Arcy Motors car dealership in Joliet. DR Horton is looking to construct homes as part of the Prairie Landing subdivision.
Joliet City Councilman Larry Hug, who represents District 1 the area where Prairie Landing subdivision is proposed, said he supports the project because the builder is taking steps to create drainage and flood relief for nearby residents of the Picardy and Warwick subdivisions. The city council unanimously approved the project Tuesday.
Sheri Harty, who lives on Vimy Ridge Drive in the Picardy subdivision, asked the council to be considerate of animal life in the neighborhood, such as deer, ducks, owls and raccoons.
“Please consider giving us a retention pond somewhere here in the back,” she asked. “The animals rely on that gully that runs through the property for water throughout the seasons.”
In other city news Tuesday, the council removed an agenda item on a new Joliet bar proposed at 926 Gardner St. The site used to be the home of Eden’s Bar and Grill, which, according to D’Arcy, was riddled with crime, including a shooting that injured two women and one man on Sept. 22.
The mayor, also the city’s liquor commissioner, said the transfer of liquor license to Imad Mosbah, who wants to operate Tony’s Bar and Grill at the Gardner Street location, should be denied even though the applicant is not a convicted felon and has more than a decade of experience in alcohol sales. This recommendation was made prior to the council removing the item from the agenda with no specific timeline given as to when the proposal will be addressed at a future meeting.
“In the past 12 months, there have been 22 calls for service to this location including several serious crimes,” according to a city memo. “Based on this information, the transfer of a liquor license at this location would exacerbate existing law enforcement problems in the area.” mmayer@thetimesweekly.com
