McHenry Times

The Village Board of Huntley is considering a new site plan for their Center Business District.

At their March 23 board meeting, village officials received a presentation about a proposed multi-tenant retail building on Lot 6 of Huntley Crossings, which is located directly north of the BMO Harris Bank. The developer purchased the lot in February, and it is zoned for a planned unit development in the Center Business District. The plan for the 1.7-acre lot has an 8,400-square-foot building that would house four retailers: a Wingstop restaurant, The Human Bean (a drive-thru coffee shop), a retail liquor store and a quick-service/carryout restaurant.

Development director Charles Nordman addressed the proposed business and site plan, stating that the fourth tenant space for a quick-service restaurant is still up in the air because they do not have a specific tenant for it yet. All of the parking and access meets requirements, with 45 parking spaces for the entire development. The buildings will be a dark gray-face brick with stone veneers. They will have false glass storefronts and wrap around the two endcaps. The design and elevations meet all the building requirements, elevation and aesthetic requirements of the Village.

“I just have one request,” Ronda Goldman, village board trustee, said. “No more pizza places. I love what you're bringing. We put out a survey every year to the public. So they’re asking like what you're bringing with the coffee beans - they want something like that. And then, of course, Wingstop. Be creative and come up with something clever, different.”

This was a preliminary review of the proposed site. It will continue on to a formal review through the zoning commission and then the village board for final review, but they wanted any major input from the council. The trustees mainly questioned the drive-thru for the coffee store, which the development would need a special-use permit for. They asked about potential escape lanes and curbs to direct traffic and prevent any hazards or dangers from routinely occurring. There will also be no patios or outdoor seating at the development.

Overall, the council was interested in the idea, although they wanted more details on the drive-thru and fourth tenant to be presented at their next meeting.