CHICAGO — A neighborhood group has filed a legal appeal attempting to invalidate the approval of a controversial metal shredder slated to open in Pilsen, alleging the metal shredder's operator missed crucial permitting deadlines.
The Pilsen Alliance filed its appeal Monday in Cook County Circuit Court regarding the $30 million metal shredder, which has sparked controversy in the neighborhood, with some claiming its location — across the street from Benito Juarez High School — will cause safety, environment and traffic problems. Ald. Danny Solis (25th) has supported the metal shredder, and others in the neighborhood have said Pilsen will be helped by the 75 jobs expected to be created by the shredder.
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The appeal claims the company that sought approval of the metal shredder, Pure Metal Recycling, didn't get approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals until Feb. 21, even though it first filed on July 15, 2013. The board requires approval within six months of filing, the suit says.
The appeal also claims Pure Metal was initially rejected by the Planning and Zoning Department on May 14, 2013, which would mean Pure Metal filed its appeal after the board's 45-day deadline to file.
According to the board of appeals' regulations, "an application for an appeal must be filed with the ZBA within 45 days after the zoning administrator’s decision" and "except as specified in the zoning code, any applications not acted upon by the board within six months of the filing date is considered denied."
Hearings for the shredder were delayed several months for various reasons before its Feb. 21 Zoning Board of Appeals approval.
