>>> HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF VACANT LAND IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS COULD BE IN LINE FOR A MAJOR MAKEOVER.

IT'S LAND THAT CROWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS LONG OWNED, AND NOW WANTS TO USE FOR HOUSING, CIVIC SPACE, RETAIL, AND DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES.

THOSE WAREHOUSES HAVE BEEN SPROUTING UP ACROSS CHICAGOLAND, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT EXPLOSION OF ONLINE SHOPPING.

AS CHICAGO TONIGHT'S NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS, COMEDY OFFICIALS SAY THE GROWTH WELL-BALANCED PLAN, BUT SOME NEIGHBORS WANT TO SEE IT BLOCKED.

>> Reporter: WHEN CROWN FIRST CAME TO SUGAR GROVE, JENNIFER CONAN WASN'T INTERESTED.

>> I RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2019 OH POST TO THAT PLAN.

>> Reporter: CONAN NOW SERVES AS SUGAR GROVE'S VILLAGE PRESIDENT.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN SHE RAN AGAINST WOULD'VE BROUGHT MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES TO TOWN.

>> 8 MILLION SQUARE FEET, FOR ME, WAS GOING TO DEFINE THE VILLAGE IN A WAY THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO DEFINE.

WE'RE COMING BACK IN NOW WITH WHAT WE THINK IS A TERRIFIC PLAN THAT'S VERY BALANCED , THAT INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT RESIDENTIAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AS WELL AS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF DISTRIBUTION THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ON THE NORTH SIDE BY 56%.

>> Reporter: CROWNS NEW PROPOSAL STILL CALLS FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS SPACE, INCLUDING WAREHOUSES ALONG ROUTE 47, NORTH OF INTERSTATE 88, ON LAND THAT'S CURRENTLY JUST TREES AND UNUSED FARMLAND.

SOUTH OF I 88, A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL, AND CIVIC SPACE, WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A TOWN CENTER.

>> THAT INCLUDES A STAGE WHERE WE'LL HAVE OUTDOOR CONCERTS IN THE SUMMERTIME, AS WELL AS A SKATING RINK IN THE WINTERTIME AND A FISHING PIER, A BEER GARDEN, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A BEER GARDEN OUT THERE, AS WELL AS A FARMERS MARKET.

>> Reporter: SUGAR GROVE'S CONAN THE NEW PROPOSAL, AND BETTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FROM CROWN, HAS HELPED WIN HER OVER.

>> WE AS A VILLAGE NEED MORE RESIDENTS.

WE NEED MORE COMMERCIAL AND THINGS TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE NEED A LARGER TAX BASE.

WE CAN'T PUT THAT BURDEN SOLELY ON HOMEOWNERS.

SO THIS OFFERS, IT OFFERS ALL OF IT, WHICH IS WHY I LIKE IT.

>> Reporter: THE PLAN CALLS FOR SUGAR GROVE TO ANNEX THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE THE PROPERTY A PART OF THE VILLAGE.

SOME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON UNINCORPORATED LAND NEARBY SAY THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING A VOICE IN THE PROCESS.

>> THIS AREA ACROSS THE ROAD HERE, THIS IS ALL SET FOR WAREHOUSES, AND IT'S CLOSE TO THE ROAD HERE.

THEY'VE GOT SOME, LIKE, SMALL OFFICES.

>> Reporter: DALE AND LISA HAVE LIVED ON SEVERAL ACRES IN UNINCORPORATED BLACKBERRY TOWNSHIP JUST NORTH OF THE VILLAGE FOR THREE DECADES.

THE THREE OTHER CORNERS OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE THEIR PROPERTIES THAT ARE PART OF THE WAREHOUSE PORTION OF CROWNS PROPOSAL.

>> AND THEN ACROSS THE ROAD HERE TO THE SOUTH IS THE FUELING STATION THAT THEY'RE NOT CALLING US TRUCK STOP.

>> Reporter: PART OF THE DEAL INVOLVES.

BUT THE SLINGS SAY THAT TAX BREAK COULD PUT A BURDEN ON VILLAGE RESIDENTS DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEY ARGUE TIPS SHOULD BE FOR LAND THAT'S BLIGHTED AND NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED.

>> IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR 30 YEARS.

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DEVELOPED.

CROWN WATCHED THEM DEVELOP IT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CROWN BUILDING HOUSES.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY FITS IN IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT.

>> I WOULD LIKE THEM TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

I WOULD LIKE THEM TO LISTEN TO AND OUR CONCERNS AS FAR AS WAREHOUSES INCREASING THE TRUCK TRAFFIC, POLLUTION, LIGHT, NOISE, AND I WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: MOLLY REIMER IS ANOTHER NAME ARE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT.

SHE ALSO LIVES ON UNINCORPORATED LAND, RELYING ON WELL WATER AND A SEPTIC SYSTEM.

REIMER SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND GREW UP IN A TOWN WHOSE WATER SUPPLY WAS TAINTED AND THE DANGEROUS INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL TRICHLOROETHYLENE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS OUR WATER , AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US, MAKING SURE THAT STATES SAFE AND CLEAN AND HEALTHY FOR EVERYBODY THAT LIVES THERE.

>> Reporter: BUT CROWN OFFICIALS SAY THE PRODUCT WILL GO THROUGH EXTENSIVE REVIEW TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PROPER TRAFFIC FLOW.

JENNIFER COWAN SAYS THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING NEIGHBORS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF SUGAR GROVE.

>> WE LISTENED TO THE COMMITTEE.

WE'VE HEARD THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE MODIFIED THE PLANS ACCORDINGLY, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT AMENITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY.

>> Reporter: FOR RESIDENTS, OTHER WORRIES ARE LESS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT AND MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF SMALL-TOWN LIFE.

>> RURAL AMERICA DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY TIME THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S AN OPEN FARM FIELD, WE GOT TO THINK OF ANOTHER USE FOR IT.

>> Reporter: BUT SUGAR GROVE'S CONAN SAYS DEVELOPMENT AND A NEW TOWN CENTER CAN HELP CREATE AN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ITS RESIDENTS.

>> BILL SHOP, THEY'LL DINE, THEY'LL GO FOR A WALK, BILLFISH, THEY'LL ENJOY LIFE HERE IN SUGAR GROVE, AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT PLACE TODAY.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> CROWN SAYS AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING, THEY HEARD FROM MULTIPLE RESIDENTS SUPPORTIVE