Libertyville won't turn its back on industrial past

When Money magazine pegged Libertyville as the 52nd best place to live in the country, a street scene from the historic downtown was posted as a defining image.

Quaint shops, leisure activities, income and housing were among other factors cited by the magazine last month. But there was no mention of the village's industrial base, the scrappy sinew that defined the town before it became an upscale venue.

Village leaders refuse to forsake those roots, evidenced by a recent decision that angered a would-be developer. By voting against a plan to refurbish and re-use the idled Solar Corp. building on Route 176, the village board let it be known some things won't change.

While the main building and grounds on one of the village's gateways would have been prettied up under the plan for a self-storage facility, keeping it in play as a potential job center was determined to be more important.

"Don't 'just industrial' me," Mayor Jeff Harger snapped to the developer who wants to re-make the sprawling Solar plant.

For 60 years until it closed last summer, plastic parts for automotive and home electronics were produced at the east-side factory. It employed 300.

In 2005, about 15 percent of Libertyville residents over age 16 were employed in the manufacturing industry, according to Lake County Partners, the county's economic development arm.

"Industry is part of the fabric of this community," Harger told Christopher Barry, the owner of LifeStorage. The Elgin-based company operates or is building at eight locations, what it describes as the "next generation of climate controlled self-storage facilities."

Harger later expanded on that thought.

"We don't want it. It's not a good use for the property," he said.

"Just because somebody wants to improve a building doesn't mean they can get any use they want. It's manufacturing. Manufacturing facilities aren't all beautiful glass buildings."

LifeStorage this spring bought three adjoining parcels, comprising about 17 acres bordering the west side of Liberty Lake, for $4.8 million.

The plan was to convert 131,235 square feet of the main building to a storage facility and lease another 50,000 for warehouse use. The project would include new facades, landscaping, lighting, signs and parking lot upgrades. Separate buildings to the north were to be cleaned up.

Representatives told the plan commission the Solar site was the most appropriate in town, and there was a need for that type of use.

Longer-range, LifeStorage envisioned a mix of retail and office uses along Route 176 and agreed to apply for additional approvals within a year.

Village staff recommended approval of the self-storage facility, as it was allowed as a special use in the zoning district where Solar was located. The plan commission also recommended approval by a 4-2 vote.

Standards used to interpret village code issues changed in 2002, however, and some commissioners had concerns about what uses were allowed in Solar's zoning district.

On a 6-0 vote, the commission recommended placing self-storage in a different zoning classification.

At its regular meeting last week, the village board agreed, effectively shutting out LifeStorage. The decision won't be official until an ordinance is approved, likely at the Aug. 28 meeting.

"I don't see how this complies whatsoever with the comprehensive plan the village spent four years putting together," Trustee Luke Lukens said of the proposal.

Matt Norton, an attorney representing LifeStorage, said the zoning code trumps the comprehensive plan.

"We're planning on doing major renovations to this building. We have numerous tenant opportunities," Barry added.

Lukens argued he doesn't see it as "the highest and best use of that property on our gateway."

"It's an extremely important piece of property," he added.

A frustrated Barry said there were some "physical restraints" with the site, and the buildings "are going to be part of this community for a very long time."

According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the site is considered to be in "active remediation," as measures are taken to remove or neutralize chlorinated solvents, which are concentrated under the building.

Barry said substantial renovation would be a plus on a village gateway, but it may be unreasonable to expect another business to replace the number of jobs lost when Solar closed.

What's next?

"I don't know," Barry said. "We'll have a meeting with staff and the mayor and assess realistic opportunities for this property."

That meeting is tentatively scheduled for today.