As DeKalb’s industrial economy grows, trucks over five tons using roads illegally have become a concern for residents.

“Trucks are a by-product that comes with industry,” said Dave Backer, sixth ward alderman.

Numerous DeKalb residents stood up at the city council meeting and spoke about their concern over the city’s consideration to make Fairview Drive a legal truck route.

Mike Moan of DeKalb presented the council with a petition signed by 600 people from the newly-developed south side neighborhoods adjacent to Fairview Drive.

The main concerns were whether Fairview could handle the heavy traffic, safety liabilities with children, roadway lighting, and excessively loud noise.

The council did not rule out Fairview Drive, but did agree to postpone any final decisions on the matter until further examination of the truck traffic could be made from a community-wide perspective. Once there is a consensus, the hopes are to return with more possibilities.

In other news, the council approved participation in a Cash for Katrina Day in DeKalb Sept. 16.

City employees, elected officials and community leaders will volunteer to gather money at designated intersections all over DeKalb.

Mayor Van Buer said he and his wife will be at the corner of Lincoln Highway and First St. from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on that day.

The council also voted unanimously to grant a continuance on DeKalb’s moratorium until Nov. 30 while citizen feedback is collected. The moratorium forbids any annexation of residential land into the city. Originally set to expire Sept. 30, the council decided it needed more time to develop a residential design plan.

The council also addressed the problem intersection between Wal-Mart, 2300 Sycamore Road, and Best Buy, 2074 Sycamore Road and voted in favor of reviewing a possible realignment of the plaza’s driveway. As it is now, moviegoers leaving GKC Market Theater get confused because the road lines don’t meet properly.

Starbucks is considering opening a store at 1031 W. Lincoln Highway and the council approved a drive-thru to be allowed at the establishment.

Alderman Baker spoke as a citizen against Starbucks having a drive-thru because of the already busy road conditions of the area. It’s nuts, he said, to put something that will generate such high traffic near the Annie Glidden/Lincoln Highway intersection.

Rob Walters, general manager of Insite Real Estate Development, responded, saying the Starbucks drive thru’s busiest hours are early in the morning when there is less traffic on the road.

The coffee shop is pending approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation to restructure the access lanes so traffic can flow in and out more efficiently, Walters said.

The council voted to allow Starbucks to enter the city pending the IDOT approval.