Lake County briefs
Housing group selected
Vernon Hills trustees Tuesday chose Pathway Senior Living LLC as developer of up to 240 senior apartments and supported living units on 3 acres at Phillip Road and Atrium Drive. The memorandum of understanding allows Pathway to apply for a state license to operate the facility, which would have a majority of affordable units. Next, the group must go through the village review process, which includes a public hearing in advance of an April 1 deadline for it to apply for housing tax credits. Parking, building height and other details will be part of the review process. "This is a project we need in town," said Trustee Thom Koch. "I'm still not 100 percent sold on the site and whether or not it will fit."
Storage facility gets OK
The former site of the Solar Corp. on Route 176 in Libertyville will be redeveloped following action Tuesday by the village board. The board approved a settlement with Elgin-based Life Storage Centers, which had sued the village in 2007 after its plan for a self-storage facility on the property was denied. Trustees at the time interpreted the village code as not allowing that use in that location. Life Storage revised its plan to include space for incubator businesses and related warehouse facilities.
Wind power added to Libertyville code
Libertyville trustees have agreed to amend the village code to allow for wind turbines to generate electric power. In a series of approvals, the board informally OK'd the change, which classifies wind turbines in business and commercial categories. The issue surfaced several months ago following a request from DPR Investments LLC, to install a 146-foot tall turbine at 844 E. Rockland Road. A special use for an electric power generation facility and site plan for the project also were approved. Village staff researched various codes throughout the Midwest to craft the language to cover a variety of issues, including setbacks, noise, spacing and even the impact of shadows from the rotating blades of turbines.
Health department expands dental services at four sites
The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is expanding oral health services at its community health centers in Waukegan, North Chicago, Round Lake Beach and Highland Park. The department is hiring two full-time dental teams to staff the clinics from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays. The expansion, which begins Jan. 24, is funded through a $250,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. The Lake County Health Department clinics now have about 28,000 dental patient visits annually. The goal is to add 4,010 visits in 2009. Clinic operation times during the week vary by location.
Lake Villa library event canceled
"Keep 'Em Flying: How the Homefront Helped the Frontlines", a program scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Lake Villa District Library, has been canceled due to poor weather. The library is at 1001 E. Grand Ave. Lake County Discovery Museum staff had planned to present an overview of the facility's temporary exhibit of World War II collections including Civil Defense booklets, photographs and postcards.