Lake Zurich panel gives OK to new plaza proposal
A Lake Zurich advisory panel has given thumbs-up to a proposal for a gasoline station, retail building and day-care center near Rand and Old Rand roads.
Planning and zoning commission members granted approval Wednesday night to developer John Alan Sfire's tentatively named Sparrow Ridge Plaza. The panel's recommendation will go before the Lake Zurich village board, which gets the final say on issues, on March 7.
While there were some questions about the merits of what would be a Murphy USA gas station, a majority agreed it's not their job to decide how many such businesses would be too many in the village.
"Who would have thought two Jewels could have survived next to each other?" planning and zoning commission member Antonio Castillo said.
In the public hearing before the planning and zoning commission, which started last month and concluded Wednesday, some residents of the bordering Sparrow Ridge subdivision raised concerns about increased traffic from the proposed project and tree loss leading to more noise. Operators of a Marathon gas station across from the proposed development reiterated concern about losing business to Murphy USA.
Planning and zoning commission member Tom Tomsovic was one of two members to vote against granting a special-use permit the gas station needs to operate.
"I don't see many positive impacts at this point," Tomsovic said.
Sfire wants to build the retail center, day-care operation and gas station on a 5-acre site just south of his Deerpath Commons mall.
If constructed, the retail building would cover about 10,850 square feet and might include a restaurant with a drive-through. The gas station would have 16 fueling positions, according to documents Sfire submitted to the village.
While there would be removal of many old trees to accommodate Sparrow Ridge Plaza, Sfire noted his landscape plan calls for at least 1,000 new plantings. An inventory solicited by Sfire's Fidelity Group shows 732 trees on the site, with some considered dying, leaning or perished.
Sparrow Ridge Plaza would connect to Deerpath Commons, where Binny's Beverage Depot, Aldi and House of Hope Resale are among the major tenants. Sfire has a contract to purchase the land next to his mall, contingent on gaining final village board approval for his plan.