Lombard presents plan for special business district
A new report by Lombard officials outlines goals the village likely will pursue to promote the type of development it would like to see along Roosevelt Road.
Chief among those goals are identifying preferred land uses, creating a safe environment for pedestrian traffic and transforming Roosevelt into regional business corridor.
Within the report, Community Development Director David Hulseberg and other members of an ad hoc committee are recommending that Lombard create a special business district.
If created, the district would give the village more control over what could be developed along Roosevelt.
Ultimately, what Lombard leaders would like to see is the kind of business success being experienced at Yorktown Center, where a new 500-room hotel and convention center debuted last month.
Beyond Yorktown, Roosevelt Road is the village's next largest shopping area.
In January, trustees established a nine-month moratorium so the ad hoc committee could take a comprehensive look at the road.
Though the moratorium prevented new construction projects, it didn't cancel previously approved plans, including a new Chase Bank being built at Highland Avenue, as part of a larger shopping complex.
Early plans to build a bank and a strip mall at the site of the former Lombard Lanes and a former county building also were approved before the moratorium, which is scheduled to expire Oct. 5.
In the new report, restaurants, department stores, retail bakeries and grocery stores ranked highest among desired businesses along Roosevelt.
Although the report acknowledged that Roosevelt has "traditionally served the automotive sales and service needs of the community," auto repair stores, along with bus stations, skating rinks and funeral homes were among the least-desired businesses.
Along with stating what types of businesses the village would like to see, Lombard leaders also are interested in the road's appearance.
Eliminating billboards on Roosevelt has been part of recent annexation agreements with property owners.
"Slowly, but surely, they've been coming down," Village Manager William Lichter said.
The village board could vote to accept plans for zoning and business district changes next month.