Chick-fil-A restaurant planned in Kildeer on Muddy Paws property
Kildeer officials are considering a proposal for a popular chain restaurant to be constructed on the Rand Road site of the former Muddy Paws shelter, where 30 dogs and other animals were found dead from neglect in 2010.
Chick-fil-A intends to build on much of a roughly 2-acre site on Rand Road’s east side, and company representatives are scheduled to bring the proposal before the advisory Kildeer plan commission Tuesday night.
Muddy Paws’ structures were demolished in summer 2011. In December 2010, Kildeer police went to Muddy Paws and discovered 30 dogs, three birds and an opossum that authorities said all starved to death.
Kildeer Village Administrator Michael Talbett said he believes the Muddy Paws site has been vacant for a long enough time that it doesn’t immediately register as the place where the animal abuse occurred. The site currently is within Deer Park village limits, but Chick-fil-A’s proposal falls under a boundary agreement between Deer Park and Kildeer governing Rand Road development for those villages.
“It was such an awful event, but fortunately for both villages, there was no stigma attached to it,” Talbett said Friday.
Deer Park principally is on Rand Road’s west side and Kildeer is on the east, but both municipalities control small parcels on each side of Rand Road. Officials have been trying to better organize the area, and as a result, new developments are being assigned to Kildeer if they are on Rand’s east side and to Deer Park on the west.
Talbett said with the Chick-fil-A proposal for Rand Road’s east side, the boundary agreement means it would go to Kildeer. Deer Park would give up the 2-acre parcel, allowing Kildeer to annex it to host the popular eatery.
Chick-fil-A development manager Jason Hill and Kimco Realty Corp.’s Patrick Rooney gave an informal, courtesy presentation to the Kildeer village board in March. Hill said the eatery would include an outdoor patio with 20 seats and an indoor play area.
Talbett said Chick-fil-A wants to provide a half-acre for access to the neighboring Shops at Kildeer mall. Village officials are examining the restaurant’s request for a drive-through window and the number of parking spaces planned.
Kildeer plan commission members will forward a recommendation on Chick-fil-A to the village board, which has the final say on issues.
Chick-fil-A operates 1,600 restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C. It plans to open stores in Vernon Hills and Gurnee as part of its effort to make inroads in the Chicago area.
Best known for chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, Chick-fil-A’s openings have attracted throngs of customers for its “First 100” promotion. Chick-fil-A gives coupons good for free weekly meals for a year to the first 100 patrons who line up at a grand opening.
Twitter: @DHBobSusnjara