Wauconda torn over commercial development

The village of Wauconda wants commercial development.

A builder came to the village with an idea to build homes on Route 176 and Sky Hill Drive.

The village asked them to include spots for businesses in the development plan.

They did.

Then, when the builder came before the zoning board and planning commission, commissioners voted to send a negative recommendation on the plan to the village board.

Why?

The commercial development the village requested.

"We're sort of in a catch-22," Lawrence Freedman, the lawyer for developer Castle MDP, told the commissioners before the vote. "This is, frankly, what your ordinances call for."

And though Wauconda's comprehensive plan, which lays out where the village wants to encourage particular kinds of development, says Route 176 needs more business, even the commissioner who voted in favor of the plan says it might not be the right place to put commercial development.

"That specific piece of area was just not a good fit," said Commissioner Matthew Kurland, who said he voted for the plan because of how badly the village needs new business.

"You need to start somewhere," Kurland said, noting the two commercial spots in the plan were a combined 7,500 square feet.

Dave Zipprich, one of the more than 50 nearby residents to attend the zoning meeting, said he understood the village's concerns.

"I know the town needs money," Zipprich said. "It just seems like a bad spot."

Residents expressed concern about bad traffic in the area and said the businesses would be surrounded by homes.

"We are going to have people speeding in and out," Gale Loding said at the meeting. "You mark my words, it will be detrimental."

The village board will consider the issue at a future meeting.