A multi-story senior independent living development is in the early planning stages for location on approximately five acres at 201-209 Congress Parkway adjacent to the proposed Camelot School. Thomas Crystal Lake, LLC, Northbrook, petitioner for the proposed project, was before the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday.
According to information provided the Commission, the project would provide one to three bedroom affordable housing units. The company has similar housing projects in other suburban locations.
The four-story building would include parking on the first floor with three floors of living quarters above. Each unit would contain a furnace for heat. The petitioners expressed the idea that the location was ideal for senior living because of the location being near medical facilities, downtown Crystal Lake and availability of other businesses along Route 14.
Some of the concerns from the Commission included: there may not be enough parking; the 20 units per acre is too dense; concern about restricting residency to a certain age.
A public hearing on the project was set for the May 5 Commission meeting.
Ashton Pointe
This project was before the Commission again with fewer residents in the audience than the previous appearance. Some changes have been made in the modifications the builder is planning but there are still concerns that including 14 ranch type homes in the development with the two story homes that are already there will reduce the value of those homes. One of the commissioners noted that the development he resides in has ranch homes next to two story homes and it has not seemed to reduce the value of those homes.
The developer is looking for ways to make some variations in the development in hopes of enticing more buyers. A meeting was held with the residents and some were present at the meeting with remarks indicating they were not happy with the outcome. Others of the subdivision expressed a willingness to work with the developer. And some of the Planning Commission members indicated a dislike for smaller home mixed with larger ones.
The developer is to try to work further with the residents in an attempt to be able to make some minor changes in hopes of attracting home buyers.
Wholesaler Seeking Larger Facility
An empty building at 176 W. Terra Cotta Avenue zoned for manufacturing may find a new use. The petitioner, Alternative Garden Supply, Inc., currently located in Cary, was seeking comments from the Planning Commission before purchasing the building for on Terra Cotta Avenue for a warehousing distribution facility that supplies merchandise to a chain of retail stores, 'Brew and Grow'. A second user at the location is proposed to be National Garden Wholesale which is a distribution warehouse.
Also desired to be located for Brew and Grow is a showroom that retails beer and wine-making supplies and gardening equipment. There would be no sale of alcoholic beverages at this location; however, they would like to demonstrate the brewing process, typically on a Saturday. A use variation would be required since retail sales are not permitted in the Manufacturing District.
Other concerns to be looked at are parking, and outdoor storage. The applicant will have to prove a practical difficulty or hardship caused by the Zoning Ordinance requirements at the public hearing. A number of other factors will also have to be considered when the petitioner goes before the City Council May 4.
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