McHenry Times

At their April 13 board meeting, Huntley Village trustees were presented with proposed site plans for a new development in the area.

The proposed multi-tenant retail building to be located on Lot 4 of Huntley Crossing Phase I on Route 47 and Huntley Drive featured a site plan and building elevations along with a new aspect of the popular Chipotle restaurant chain.

The developer visited the City Council in December with plans for a Valvoline oil change and soft goods retailer for the area but has now returned with a new concept that includes two restaurants with pick-up window additions.

"I would just like to note that we currently do not have signed leases with these tenants," Adam Bell, representative of developer Core Acquisitions, told the trustees in the meeting. "We are working through that and we do anticipate having it hopefully by the time the Plan Commission comes around. But, you know, it was a courtesy given to me by the tenants to allow me to, you know, release their names on this. But it is not guaranteed at this point."

Bell commented that he is confident the deal will go through.

"You know, we still have permit contingencies to get through and we still have to get through the lease," he said. "But we are very confident and we do have agreed-to terms at this point. So it's really just a legal formality. But I do need to just clarify that before we get into it. Hopefully this site plan is a little bit better than the last one we brought in for this lot and a little more acceptable to all. And I appreciate it's nice to see everybody again."

The site plan features a stand-alone Chipotle restaurant and a multi-tenant building that will include a Noodles and Company restaurant. Both of the restaurants will have drive-thru windows, although they will function as mobile order pick-up windows and not the full-service drive-thrus often associated with fast food. This is a new feature for the food retailers since the COVID-19 pandemic and has seen a huge increase in business and service levels for them, so they wish to continue the service with their new locations in Huntley. The Noodles and Company building will also have a 350-square-foot patio outside, and the back areas will remain green landscape to provide permeable surfaces.

The development would divide the large lot into two sections for the two different buildings, although they would have cross access between the parking lots. The new lots would require an exemption for lot width requirements, but similar reliefs have been granted by the board in the past. They are also just under the required number of parking spaces, but only by five spaces between the two lots. The second unit next to the Noodles and Company restaurant is proposed to be for medical clinic usage.

The board also reviewed the proposed materials for the buildings and their appearance.