Impasse stalls Palatine Quest Academy’s expansion

Quest Academy and the village of Palatine reached an impasse over a portion of the private school’s proposed expansion, and after a lengthy debate Monday night they opted to postpone the issue until next week.

The sticking point related to Quest’s purchase of the adjacent Palatine Centre on Northwest Highway, and whether space dedicated to future student use must be contiguous.

Quest representatives contend that because the shopping center is being bought as an investment, they need flexibility to run it the way they see fit.

However, village officials counter that student safety could be in jeopardy in an emergency or lockdown situation if kids are scattered throughout the building. Police Chief John Koziol said it’s not a far-fetched scenario considering a bank and jeweler located in the center each have required more than a dozen calls for police service.

“It makes managing the site from a service perspective impossible,” Councilman Scott Lamerand said.

Both Quest and the village officials said they want to reach an agreement and expressed optimism that will happen by Oct. 10 council meeting.

Another issue that needs to be rectified is Quest’s preschool, which is operating in Palatine Centre without village approval. The shopping center’s zoning doesn’t allow for a school without the council’s permission, which neither Quest nor the current building owner sought.

The portion of Quest’s expansion proposal that was tabled until next week would have put the school in compliance.

“We want to work with them,” Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. “We’re trying to legitimize the space.”

Despite the disagreement over part of Quest’s proposal, the council did approve the school’s plan to construct a western campus at Plum Grove Office Park between Plum Grove Road and Brockway Street. It would consist of an athletic field, basketball court and expanded parking lot.

That proposal similarly created a lengthy debate over concerns of water runoff because the residential area to the immediate south is prone to flooding.

However, project engineer Bill Perry outlined remedies including depression areas around the field, the use of natural turf and the installation of a retention tool that should already be on the site. He also said it may be possible to tap into a less utilized storm sewer to the north.

The measures placated Councilman Brad Helms, who said development must not adversely affect the nearby offices and homes.

“That area cannot take another drop of runoff from that parcel,” Helms said.