No 24-hour operation for proposed Rolling Meadows Dunkin' Donuts
The owner of a proposed Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins has agreed to shorten hours of operation and move the drive-through farther from a nearby Rolling Meadows condominium building to try to assuage neighbors' concerns.
The Rajabali Group plans to open the combination doughnut/ice cream shop inside the shuttered Bowl House restaurant at 1921 Algonquin Road, but withdrew the original application this month after opposition from the Saratoga Condominium Association, composed of 276 residential units at 5500 Astor Lane.
Steve Kolber, an architect with Kolbrook Design, which has been hired by Rajabali, said this week a portion of the rear of the building will be demolished to make more room for the drive-through. Instead of 30 feet from the windows and patio doors of one of the condo buildings, the drive-through lane would be 50 feet away, he said.
Architects are altering the site layout and elevations of the store and hope to get the blessing of corporate leaders before resubmitting plans to the city. The project would require a special use from the city council.
As to the original proposal for a 24-hour operation, Kolber said Rajabali agreed to drop those plans after discussions with residents.
The company, which operates several of the coffee shops throughout the suburbs, is also offering to contribute to installation of a gate on the south side of the condo property and security cameras, Kolber said.
"We're happy to work with the neighbors and want to accommodate them, to the point where we're redesigning the building to make things work," he said.
Jonathan Rogers, an attorney representing the condo owners, said this week that he's had "very positive, productive talks" with the architects in hopes of trying to alleviate residents' concerns.