Lack of parking stalls building proposal in Palatine

One of the most prevalent obstacles to increasing business in Palatine isn't a lack of facilities, interest or even the economy.

It's parking.

A proposed Froots restaurant is in limbo because the southeast plaza at Quentin Road and Northwest Highway is 10 parking spaces short of what's required by the village.

Then on Monday, despite the initial go-ahead last month, plans to build a 12,200-square-foot office building came to a screeching halt over similar concerns. The existing complex, which includes the 10-story Harris Bank building, Cotillion and Willow Creek offices, has 672 parking spaces - well short of the 909 spaces already required under village ordinance. Officials aren't eager to approve a project that calls for another 41 spaces.

But developers presented a traffic study showing the site at 800 E. Northwest Hwy. actually has 104 surplus spaces based on current peak usage. They argued the new six-unit office condominiums would likely house doctors' offices and operate during the daytime, while the Cotillion banquet hall hosts most of its events on nights and weekends.

Not so, said owner Tom Sizopoulos, who implored councilmen to nix the project. He said weddings in many ethnic communities take place during the week and it's common during the summer for 1,500 people to visit over a three-day period. Police have already been called over parking issues, he said, adding that ample parking is a prerequisite for anyone planning a corporate event.

Officials worry that overflow parking would fall to the adjacent residential streets and said the developer needs to come up with a safety net, perhaps in the form of parking agreements with neighboring businesses.

"We have a code that tries to be one size fits all," said Village Manager Reid Ottesen. "We don't know what's going to be there tomorrow."

The developers will return to the council Feb. 2, and officials are pulling for a solution that will result in construction - and property taxes - in some form.

"God bless someone who's going to invest in Palatine," said Mayor Rita Mullins.