Long Grove looking at housing options

The Long Grove village board could approve a downtown master plan that would guide development in years to come at its next meeting.

On Tuesday, the board went through the proposed plan by consultant Hitchcock Design Group. The plan commission had earlier given approval to the document and gave its own comments on some facets, such as the proposal of multifamily housing near downtown.

The plan commission was not in favor of multifamily housing in the downtown area. The board agreed with the plan commission that wasn't the best place for such housing in Long Grove.

"It's hard for me to wrap my head around it," Trustee Joe Barry said. "It would have to be done correctly to fit in Long Grove and not open Pandora's box for us."

Rick Hitchcock with the design firm said other towns depend on apartment buildings to make a downtown viable, but Long Grove is in a unique position because of the character of its downtown where that isn't necessary.

The board agreed to keep the possibility of residential housing in the downtown area, but without specifying that it be multifamily.

Trustee Ted Lazakis commended Hitchcock for thinking outside the box for other parts of Long Grove's plan.

"There's a lot of creative thinking here," he said.

Hitchcock had proposed a new public street crossing around some of the existing shops and building more retail around realigned parking lots downtown.

Hitchcock also said the village has opportunities for public green space, and Trustee Stephanie Hannon also suggested building a cultural community center.

The full plan can be viewed at www.longgrove.net.