Plans for Lake County fairgrounds leap ahead

Plans for a new Lake County fairgrounds have cleared one hurdle by gaining a thumbs-up from the Grayslake zoning board of appeals.

Members of the advisory board gave their blessing to the project at a public hearing late Wednesday. The proposal is expected to go before a village board committee Aug. 7.

If approved, the new fairgrounds would rise on the 160-acre Titus Farm near Peterson Road and Route 83. Construction would start in September, with a goal of opening the state-of-the-art facility next summer.

Zoning board members voted to recommend the village board grant a special-use permit to the Lake County Fair Association Inc. for the new site. The advisory panel's members also recommended annexation of the 160 acres so the land is within Grayslake's borders.

Fair association attorney Rudolph Magna said the facility would be a major step for the nonprofit organization. The fair has operated at routes 45 and 120 since 1956, adding a hodgepodge collection of buildings over the years.

"The excitement, the hopes and the dreams of the fair association and, in particular, its membership, is revolving around the new facilities," Magna said.

An equestrian arena and warm-up space, amphitheater, permanent offices, exhibit hall, animal barns, motorsports area would be part of the new facility. There also would be a midway accommodating rides, games and other attractions.

Grass parking would accommodate a maximum of 4,237 cars. There would be a special area for 185 recreational vehicles.

Various events would be at the fairgrounds all year.

Land would be donated to Lake County for a proposed northern extension of Midlothian Road through the fairgrounds site, said Glenn Christensen, senior planner at Manhard Consulting Ltd. in Vernon Hills. Christensen said Midlothian would be one of the access points to the fairgrounds.

Grayslake village board trustees already have granted tentative approval for a mall to be built on the current fairgrounds at routes 45 and 120. Magna said there's a contingency plan for the fair to return to its longtime home next year if the new site isn't ready.