New Lenox Creamery moving toward new patio, expanded parking lot

The Creamery, located at 918 Timber Place in New Lenox, has applied for a special use permit that would allow it to expand its parking lot, reconfigure its drive-thru lane and create a new and larger patio.

The request comes as the future widening of Laraway Road project interfering with The Creamery’s current patio and drive-thru lane. It was brought forward for a first read at Monday’s New Lenox village board meeting.

Its new parking lot will extend further east into the grass area, which The Creamery currently owns, but does not utilize. The intergovernmental agreement states that the landscape buffer yard and parking lot island variances would not negatively impact the character of the area.

The new patio is planned to be a little over 1,700 square feet and to the east side of the building. It will have a 25-inch concrete patio wall. The new patio will eliminate a parking lot island in the current parking lot, but the expansion of it keeps The Creamery up to village code.

Before it is approved, it will have to come back to the board with a full detailed site plan.

“We’re hoping that things are going well over there,” Mayor Tim Baldermann said at the meeting. “I always notice a pretty good line going around. I know you’re certainly appreciative of people supporting you during these times. It’s always nice to see businesses expand in our community.”

It will be brought back for a second read at a future village board meeting.