Early OK for Wheeling hotel complex, theater

The Wheeling Park District is giving its stamp of approval to a new development proposed across from the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel.

The 85-acre project south of Lake-Cook Road and west of Milwaukee Avenue is expected to cost $250 million.

Mark Smith of Smith Family Construction envisions it as a combination of a lifestyle center -- with a hotel, convention center, retail, residences and a movie theater -- a flood control area and a recreation center.

The latter part is where the park district comes in, with the addition of walking trails and parks.

"We've been talking about this potential for close to two years," said Jan Buchs, the executive director of the Wheeling Park District.

Buchs said the community, through a survey in 2005, has indicated that open space is a high priority, and this project -- with a proposed 38-acre lake, 3.5 acres of parks, 2 miles of paths and 13.5 acres of wetland -- is an opportunity to have that.

She did warn, however, that this is just the first stage of the discussion between the park district, the village and Smith construction.

"The financial commitment will likely be spread throughout the partners; to what extent it's not determined at this point," Buchs said.

She also addressed the fact that Vivian Smith, who recently was appointed to the park district board, is married to Mark Smith, who is proposing the construction that would benefit the park district.

"They're on the donation side of it, not on the receiving side of it, so I don't know where the conflict would be," she said.

When asked about the same issue last week, Mark Smith also said he didn't see an issue with his wife being on the board.

"It's no secret that we contribute to the park district," he said. "I see it as an attribute, not a detriment, that she is involved. If we're not taking anything from the park district and we're giving, I don't see how this is a conflict."

For now, the village is studying the property for flood control aspects.

Separately, the village recently asked for use of underutilized forest preserve property in the area for recreational and flood control purposes. Village Manager Mark Rooney said the land might come in handy for the Smith project.

But the 11.4 acres of vacant brush, on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue and south of Lake-Cook Road, would be an asset as open space regardless of the project on the west side of Milwaukee, Rooney said.

The village wouldn't purchase the land but is seeking an agreement with the Cook County Forest Preserve for at least 20 years to maintain it, he said.

The village wants to create a lake for storm water detention and also create walking and bike paths, Rooney said. The village would also want to build a pedestrian link to a horse and hiking trail near the property.

"It's not directly related to that (other project), but it could enhance that," he said.