Plan for townhouses in downtown Des Plaines get second chance
A proposal to build townhouses on the 3-acre site of a former banquet hall, Christian center and mostly vacant strip mall in downtown Des Plaines is getting a second chance.
Aldermen this week narrowly gave preliminary approval to Lexington Homes' revised plans for 58 townhouses at 783-841 Lee St., a site that includes the Good News Christian Center, the strip mall and now-vacant Casa Royale Banquets.
The 5-3 vote comes after the council in January unanimously rejected Lexington's earlier proposal for 62 townhouses on the site, over concerns about a lack of parking, the building masonry and a desire to keep the property zoned for retail use.
The council agreed to take another look at Lexington's petition in June, after the developer decreased the number of units, increased the number of guest parking spots from 10 to 30, and promised to add more brick to the front of building facades.
Aldermen are scheduled to take a final vote Oct. 19.
The project isn't a done deal because at least one alderman, Malcolm Chester, has indicated he may change his "yes" vote if Lexington does not resolve a dispute with the neighboring Immanuel Lutheran Church, whose congregants want the developer to install a fence between their properties.
Christine Schap, chairwoman of the church congregation, said church members don't believe the proposed redevelopment is the right fit for the property because of its configuration and density.
Alderman Jack Robinson, whose 2nd Ward includes the proposed townhouse project, also doesn't support it because he says it will add to the neighborhood's parking woes. There isn't enough parking for residents in nearby condominium buildings, he said.
"It's already a mess over there, and this is just going to compound it immensely," Robinson said.
Alderman Patti Haugeberg noted that 47 of the townhouses will have three bedrooms, suggesting each home will have three vehicles.
But Alderman Mike Charewicz said the development's parking ratio is 2.52 spaces per unit, when the city requires only two.
Alderman Denise Rodd said having cars park on main streets outside the townhouse development is "part of living in a semi-urban neighborhood."
"Des Plaines is a city. We aren't out in the corn," Rodd said. "People park on the streets. That is a fact of life here. I don't think it's a reason to turn away development that will ultimately benefit Des Plaines as a whole."
If approved, the development could take up to three years to construct.