Northbrook board gives Toyota dealership expansion prelimnary review
A preliminary review of a request to redevelop and expand the existing Toyota on Edens dealership on Skokie Boulevard was presented to the Northbrook board of trustees during the planning and economic development portion of Tuesday's meeting.
With a goal of replacing the current dealership with a modernized facility similar to others in the region, the three-phase plan would involve the demolition of a vacant building at 1550 Skokie Blvd., the construction of a new Toyota dealership in its place, and the construction of a new car wash on the 1510-1530 Skokie Blvd. site to connect to the dealership.
In phase two, an office building at 1500 Skokie Blvd. would be acquired and continue to operate with current tenant leases, and unused office building parking would be used for dealership vehicle parking. During phase three, the office building would be demolished to make way for dealership storage.
A combined total of 6.22 acres for the subject property was given during the presentation.
"I think it's fantastic. I'm super-excited," said Trustee Muriel Collison, who did express potential safety concern that dealerships along Skokie Boulevard currently park delivery trucks in the center of the roadway while vehicles are unloaded from trailers. With an expanded dealership, she said she would prefer that unloading of vehicles take place on-site.
"Since this is an expanded parcel, we're talking about a lot of potential room, (and) we'd like all unloading to take place on the premises," Collison said.
The board would have to grant a zoning change, from office to commercial, as well as other approvals to allow the dealership's expansion, including a setback and wall signage height.
Village President Kathryn Ciesla noted that both the current dealership structure and the nearby office building may be obsolete, the latter due to the number of office vacancies along Skokie Boulevard.
"I'd like to see some data relative to the economic impact of expanding the dealership," Ciesla said. "To make certain that we're doing is what's in the best interests of the community, but certainly this is just outstanding and we'd like to move forward."