Barrington Golden Triangle developers: Multifamily development can handle traffic

Developers aiming to build a $100 million residential complex at Barrington’s Golden Triangle addressed village trustees’ concerns about traffic, while also emphasizing the need to fast-track the project.

The proposal for The Residences at Liberty Commons calls for 16 studio apartments, 119 one-bedroom, 66 two-bedroom, six three-bedroom and 16 townhouses.

Michael Fleck and Nick Marrocco of the Barrington Development Co. told trustees Monday they will have their traffic consultant, KLOA, conduct a full traffic study of the area, which is already clogged with traffic.

“I think our interests are definitely aligned here,” Fleck said. “We want to make sure that the development is good for Barrington, good for the residents and no further burden.”

Fleck said the overall conclusion of an initial study is the development, bounded by Liberty, Hough and the railroad tracks, will have a modest effect on the surrounding street network.

Fleck noted the development’s location is less than a half-mile from the Barrington Metra station.

He added the highest and best use would be multifamily. He said retail would produce more traffic and would help support existing retail, rather than cannibalize it.

Trustee Kate Duncan said she has concerns about density and traffic.

“There is an existing traffic problem at Main and Hough,” she said. “When trains start to come through, it backs up even further. I don’t know if it can accommodate all of these additional units that we’re trying to feed into that.”

The project’s next step is to go before the Plan Commission.

Fleck said developers need a certain amount of comfort level to move ahead with the project, given such issues as contractual timelines.

“It behooves us to get moving on this sooner than later, too, and make sure it’s going to be something that works for us and is agreeable to the village,” Fleck said.