Developers of a proposed 2,000-acre industrial park wanted to say hello to residents at a public open house at the Elwood Village Hall on Tuesday. But most of the attendees signed a petition telling the developers goodbye.

Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development met area residents for “candid feedback” about Compass Business Park, a warehousing and distribution site proposed for unincorporated Will County, according to Patrick Robinson, NorthPoint’s vice president for development.

“We’re long-term asset owners and view it as a marriage with the community,” Robinson said at the open house. “If we’re invited to come to Elwood … if we’re going to be here 30, 40 years, this is the best way to start.”

Compass Business Park would be about 8 miles south of Interstate 80 and about 9 miles east of Interstate 55 between Elwood and Manhattan.

By the end of the open house, there were 313 signatures from residents in Jackson and Manhattan townships “requesting no present or future development of warehouses east of (Illinois Route) 53,” according to Jackson Township resident Robert Hauert, who lives along the would-be entrance to the park and started the petition. Approximately 400 people attended the open house.

Many Elwood residents, including Jeff Colbert, said a park of that magnitude would eliminate the quiet and safe quality of life they expect, eventually ruining the town of about 2,300 people.

Developers say the project would not burden Route 53 because they are willing to build and pay for a dedicated bridge over Walter Strawn Road and fund any necessary road improvements, according to Scott Burnham, spokesman for NorthPoint Development.

But opponents of the development remain unimpressed.

“My biggest concern, though, is the (10,000) to 15,000 workers coming to work every day,” said Jackson Township resident Coley O’Connell. “I don’t want my (teen) daughter on those roads.”

NorthPoint Development officials said the $1.2 billion project is expected to provide 1,200 to 1,500 jobs per year during the construction phase, then 15,000 full-time jobs once all of the phases are completed. The average salary for the employees would be $35,000 to $40,000 per year, NorthPoint Development spokesman Greg Norris told a group of attendees.

One area resident said she supported the facility because it would put people to work.

Although the park is entirely in unincorporated Jackson Township, it borders the village of Manhattan, which is Manhattan Township to the east on Cherry Hill Road. Both Manhattan and Elwood villages would most likely have to approve the project, with half in each village, according to Manhattan village officials, who learned of the proposal in recent weeks.

The land is already under contract for sale, Burnham said.

“If they want services, sewer and water, which it sounds like they are going to need, they will need to annex in to Manhattan (village),” said Manhattan Village Administrator Kevin Sing, citing 2006 boundary agreements with Elwood and Joliet.

Joliet officials have had no discussions with the developers, Joliet Mayor Bob Odekirk said, rejecting the idea that Joliet would take over if Elwood did not act.

Elwood recently hired Kane McKenna and Associates, a firm that consults with municipalities on economic development, particularly bonds and tax increment financing, known as TIF.

“There’s a lot of ideas that are being kicked around right now,” said Elwood Village Administrator Marian Gibson.

Manhattan Mayor Jamie Doyle said in a statement that he was “pleased that the company has already attempted to address a number of our concerns,” emphasizing the village’s “much needed industrial growth to diversify its tax base.”

“No, we haven’t made up our minds one way or the other yet,” Doyle said. “We don’t know anything yet.”

Robinson said the open house was one of the first steps in the project, which is still in early stages. NorthPoint Development has not presented plans to the village boards in either Elwood or Manhattan, although it has been working with Elwood’s former Mayor William Offerman since September 2016, Burnham said.

Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter.