SPRINGFIELD – When a logistics company proposed a busy trucking facility across the street from a residential neighborhood, the Lake County community strongly opposed the planned development.

Compounding the issue was that the property for the development and the residential subdivision were under the jurisdiction of different governing bodies. In response to the community’s uprising, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a bill to prevent this in the future.

“We are developing a task force to give us direction and resolution on what to do when future development plans are presented,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We want to look at giving communities input on industrial developments occurring near their place of residence.”

Senate Bill 692 would create the Task Force on Inter-Jurisdictional Industrial Zoning Impacts. The task force would be responsible for evaluating current law regarding zoning for large industrial developments and the potential regional impacts of developments to neighboring municipalities that lack zoning authority. These findings would be submitted to the governor and the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2025.

“Balancing economic development, residential property value and aesthetics while considering current laws will require having many stakeholders at the table,” said Morrison. “This task force will help us decide how best to give a voice to these residential neighborhoods.”

Senate Bill 692 passed the Senate Friday and moves to the House for further consideration.