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Lake Zurich weighs changes to business approval process

In an effort to become more “business friendly,” the Lake Zurich village board is considering dropping its requirement that new or expanding businesses appear before them for a courtesy review before beginning the formal village approval process.

Mayor Thomas Poynton and village trustees on Monday weighed the pros and cons of the courtesy review, during which businesses get early feedback from the board before a proposal goes to a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Village staff who proposed the change said making courtesy review optional could reduce the approval time and assist businesses, property owners and developers of smaller projects.

But Trustee Jeff Halen disapproves of the possible change. He believes courtesy review is a necessary step in creating communication between the business and the village, and ultimately benefits the business.

“I think it's a great communication tool for the developer, for the board and for the public,” Halen said Monday. “Adding an extra two weeks to go through this step if you've been negotiating with staff for the last six months isn't going to make or break the project.”

The village board agreed to pass the discussion off to the plan commission, which will offer its input on the proposal.

“Whatever the recommendation they come back with will come to us for a vote,” Poynton said. “It will be a while.”

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