Antioch may opt for outside help with long-range plans

Should condos line the streets of downtown Antioch?

Will viable businesses ever occupy the long-vacant Main Street corners?

How will the much-desired multimillion-dollar aquatic center be funded?

These are questions being asked by Antioch residents and village trustees.

Questions that at least one trustee says need to be answered by outside professionals.

"There are two major holes in our planning process," finance committee Chairman Dennis Crosby said. "There is no short- or long-range plan for the downtown area as far as what we would like to see developed."

Crosby said he wants the village to hire a professional planner who has worked with other growing communities to develop one-, three- and five-year plans for the downtown.

In addition, Crosby would like to get a financial consultant on board who can determine the best funding mechanism for a proposed aquatic center.

Mayor Dorothy Larson can see the benefit of seeking outside help.

Larson said she envisions the financial consultant being a temporary hire, while the downtown planner would be a permanent addition.

Larson said that person could replace Claude LeMere, the village's longtime community development director, who retired July 31.

"This person would be the downtown business person," Larson said. "They would bring fresh ideas on how to keep our downtown healthy and vibrant."

Crosby said the need for a financial planner will be even greater if the village approves a proposed development along Route 173.

The planner, Crosby said, could be used to direct the village as to the best uses of the business district fund.

The fund was established in 2005 to set aside 25 percent of the sales tax revenue from Wal-Mart and other big-box stores on Route 173.

The fund was designed to protect existing businesses and will grow substantially if the board approves plans for Antioch Marketplace.

The 600,000-square-foot retail development is proposed just west of Wal-Mart and would include Target, Lowe's, Kohl's and Best Buy.

The village board is meeting tonight and could decided the fate of Antioch Marketplace.

"If we do allow Antioch Marketplace in, what do we do to generate money sooner?" Crosby said.

Marketplace developers already have promised the village $100,000 for downtown development.

Crosby is hoping to negotiate for more, and would like to use that money to hire a planner and financial consultant.

"I'm trying to be responsive to what everybody wants," he said. "If we look at all of the needs the village has, we can't just sit and wait around for someone to give us enough money."