McHenry Times

The Huntley Village Board of Trustees recently gave the green light to plans for a new restaurant and multi-tenant retail center in Huntley Crossings with a vote on final plans for re-subdivision and planned development.

The Village Board met on Jan. 12 to discuss the ordinance, with a presentation made by Director of Development Services Charles Nordman who gave an overview of the site and proposed business plans. According to Nordman, the board reviewed the concept for a nearly identical site plan in September, but this plan depicts a slight change in building elevations.

“Core Huntley is the owner of the property,” Nordman said while showing a layout of the design to the board. “It’s a 2.29-acre site that was created in 2016 when lot seven was re-subdivided for Sherwin-Williams. Core is proposing to further subdivide the lot...to allow for the construction of a multi-tenant retail center as well as a standalone retail building.”

Already there is an inkling of the types of tenants that might occupy the new space. Nordman spoke of a lease with sandwich shop Jersey Mike’s to locate within the multi-tenant retail center, as well as a soft goods retailer for the standalone retail building property. One lot will be about 67,000 square feet in area, with the other representing approximately three quarters of an acre.

In order to divide the lot into two,  Nordman said the owners were seeking relief from a city code, which puts them in violation of the lot sizes for zoning code B3. Relief is required to create the two lots, he said, as zoning calls for a minimum lot area of 80,000 square feet in a minimum lot width of 200 feet. Neither of the lots meet these requirements; however, they share an entrance and exit roadway as well as parking between the two buildings.  On the plus side, Nordman said there is sufficient parking, bicycle racks and pedestrian access.

The planning and zoning commission recommended the approval of the project with seven conditions, which the petitioner already has started to address. The concerns pertained to parking wall height and signage. 

Board members made several comments, including a request that the sidewalks be adjusted slightly. Overall, they were pleased with the project’s design and the landscaping included, approving the plan with no comment in favor or against from the public.

“I just wanted to commend you on the addressing all the comments that we had brought up at the last meeting,” Board Member Curt Kittel said. “And I think the elevations look far better. I think it's going to fit in better with what's existing, and looking forward to see what you bring into town. We appreciate you picking Huntley to choose home.”