Politics & Government

City, Trader Joe's Reorient Site to Close Alley Access

Ald. Melissa Wynne announced that in an e-mail to residents that Trader Joe's developer Terraco has redrawn site plans to close off store access to the alley altogether.

Third Ward Ald. Melissa Wynne announced Wednesday that the developer for Trader Joe’s has revised its plans and will completely close off its delivery trucks’ access to an alley shared with single-family homes.

After neighbors raised concerns about the site plans—which initially permitted some access to the alley—Wynne arranged meetings with representatives from Trader Joe’s and Terraco, the developer. 

Scheduled to go to the plan commission for review Wednesday night, Terraco’s initial proposal called for delivery trucks to enter and exit the site at 1211 Chicago Avenue entirely from the street. It also allowed vehicles to maneuver into the alley to load and unload once they had entered the lot—a stipulation that made neighbors uneasy.

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Earlier: 

Residents of Hinman Street, whose garages face the backsides of the stores along Chicago Avenue, said any access to their alley by delivery trucks would only add to the congestion behind their homes. 

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“We have deliveries to Sea Ranch, we have deliveries to Starbucks,” among many other stores, resident Pat Mulhern told Patch on Tuesday. “It’s already hard enough for us to get in and out of our alley.” 

In an e-mail sent to residents Wednesday afternoon, Ald. Wynne said that the new plans will “close the eastern lot line to restrict all vehicle access to the alley from the site.” 

Wynne said she heard from several residents in the week preceding the meeting, most of whom said their biggest concern was the access to the alley. 

“I want to assure everyone that from the start of this project I opposed any access to the alley for Trader Joe’s deliveries,” Wynne said in her e-mail. “As a resident in the 1100 block of Hinman Avenue with a home that backs up to Whole Foods, I am intimately aware of the day-to-day experiences of living next to a grocery store.” 

Wynne said she had met with representatives from the developer and Trader Joe’s within the 24 hours before the meeting, and they agreed to reorient the site to close of all access to the alley. 

Wynne said she would be available to meet with residents Wednesday night before the plan commission. She planned to sit in the Aldermanic Library at the Civic Center, beginning at 6 pm. The plan commission was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the Civic Center. 


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