Former ambulance headquarters pitched as child care facility in Vernon Hills
A proposal to transform a former ambulance company headquarters in Vernon Hills to a child care facility with 13 classrooms has moved to the public hearing stage.
The village’s advisory planning and zoning commission Wednesday will consider the request by fast-growing The Nest Schools Inc. to upgrade the former Superior Ambulance facility on Route 45 and Sullivan Drive inside and out.
Nest soon will have 54 locations in 10 states, including Crystal Lake and Barrington with several more Illinois locations expected to be announced in the near future, according to material presented to the village.
In Vernon Hills, the nearly 2-acre property on the northeast corner is zoned for office, research and development and would require a special use permit. The company also needs site plan approval and variations for lot and yard requirements.
Nest is proposing to convert the single-story, 11,834-square-foot building to accommodate about 209 children primarily aged 6 weeks to 5 years with summer and after-school programs for children up to 12.
High-end, low maintenance finishes on wall, ceilings and flooring, a “full complement of technology” including security cameras, teacher/parent communications devices, air cleaning machines and a commercial warming kitchen are part of the interior plan.
Outside, the company is proposing a 16,897-square-foot “natural” playground and additional landscaping and screening
The village board last fall gave informal approval for the plan to proceed through a detailed staff review and public hearing before returning for final approval. One issue mentioned was access to busy Route 45 during peak times.
The company since has provide a more detailed traffic analysis to support their petition and plans to keep and repair the existing fence as oppose to replacing it, according to Andrew Jennings, community development director.
According to a project description, the site will be owned by Fortec, a Florida-based real estate investment company and Nest has signed a long-term lease.
Nest is responsible for overseeing the design and construction of the facility. It will be built by NewLook Construction LLC of Wilmette, which also worked on the Barrington location.
According to the company, The Nest will make Vernon Hills “even more attractive” to potential residents and employers. Convenient, high-quality child care is important in people’s decisions about where they live and work and where companies locate, according to the proposal.
The Nest is one of four child care/preschool facilities planned or set to open in Vernon Hills in 2025.
The planning an zoning commission meets at 7:30 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Dr.