Village board to consider $38 million CarMax proposal for Antioch Corporate Center

Antioch village officials Wednesday will consider a plan to locate a CarMax inventory center with parking for thousands of vehicles on 86 acres off Route 173.

CarMax Auto Superstores Inc., is seeking approvals to build facilities in the Antioch Corporate Center between Route 45 and Crawford Road on the far east side of the village.

As proposed, an auction and production facility would be located adjacent to Handi-foil Corporation and bordered by extensive flood plain and wetlands next to Mill Creek, which has generated opposition from neighbors.

According to village materials, the facility would employ 190 and represent a $38 million investment but needs to be balanced against its potential effect on the corporate park and nearby properties.

The village board will review the site plan and preliminary and final plats during its informal committee of the whole meeting following the regular board meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. at village hall, 874 Main St. The meetings also are livestreamed. Visit antioch.il.gov.

Antioch Corporate Park was approved in 2007 as a 186-acre industrial park on the former Pedersen farm. Much of the character of the area is defined by large equestrian estates and forest preserves, according to the village.

Before 2007, the village was working with a corridor council on a low-density land use approach for the area but withdrew to approve the corporate park.

Handi-foil in a 600,000-square-foot facility and Fischer Paper in a 160,000-square-foot building are the main users. The 86-acre parcel being eyed by CarMax is one of two remaining vacant sites.

As proposed, CarMax is seeking outdoor parking for 2,024 vehicles and 49,000 square feet of buildings to refurbish and auction vehicles and a car wash on 12 acres.

The company also is seeking outdoor parking for auctions, employees and customers and general use for another 1,282 vehicles, according to village documents.

The proposed operations were shifted to the north after several village trustees in a preliminary review said they were concerned about the visual effect that many parked vehicles would have on Route 173 traffic and the character of Antioch’s eastern entryway.

Staff also recommended undulating berms and extensive landscaping on the western and northern boundaries of the site to block it from view of estate homes and farms.

Additional truck traffic on Route 173 with vehicle deliveries, the need for a second full access point to the park and potential effect on homes and Mill Creek were among other considerations.

The village’s planning commission and zoning board recommended approval 6-0 on Dec. 4. If the village board supports the project, the village attorney will be instructed to draft ordinances for official approval at a later date.