Elgin commission OKs JC Penney

The list of potential Randall Road retail options continues to grow.

Elgin planning commission members on Monday signed off on a proposed JC Penney at Randall and Bowes Road.

The 105,000-square-foot standalone department store would be built on the same site as the Super Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores approved late last year.

"There are three large lots for big-box stores," said Tom Armstrong, Elgin's principal planner. "Then there's space for smaller retail and commercial."

Armstrong says the new JC Penney would be a good addition to Elgin.

"What's nice is this is a department store that was in Elgin at one time," he said. "It's nice to have them coming back to the city."

It may be a while, however, before residents can check out what's all inside the new store.

The city council still has to sign off on the proposal.

And there's some major roadwork yet to be done at the intersection of Bowes and Randall.

The intersection improvements are tied to the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club developments, but would affect the JC Penney because the stores would have shared access, Armstrong said.

"Their ability to get access is contingent on these other improvements," he said. "It's a massive intersection improvement."

Construction on the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club is expected to begin in the spring, Armstrong said.

If approved, the proposed JC Penney would likely follow a similar timeline, he said.