Townhouses, apartments on Des Plaines site, or hold out for business?
Should a vacant 20-acre former industrial site on Northwest Highway in Des Plaines become home to a new residential development?
Or should city officials hold out hope that a new business locates there?
That's what Des Plaines aldermen and the mayor debated Monday night as they considered a rezoning request that would pave the way for a $90 million redevelopment of the former Littelfuse property at 800 E. Northwest Hwy.
Developer Dearborn-Buckingham's proposal calls for 127 townhouses and a five-story apartment building with 270 units in what is being called a transit-oriented development because of its proximity to the Cumberland Metra station.
Though the council delayed a final decision until their next meeting Sept. 8, they offered contrasting opinions on what the best use of the site would be.
Mayor Matt Bogusz said he didn't believe light industry would be the "highest and best" use for the site but did think a residential use would be conducive since the Cumberland train station is across the street.
"I believe Des Plaines is one of a few communities in the northwest corridor who have easy access to two Metra stations," Bogusz said. "It'd be a real shame if we didn't try to squeeze as much as we can out of that."
First Ward Alderman Patti Haugeberg said the development would create more traffic on Northwest Highway and "a great deal of accidents waiting to happen." She also was skeptical that residents from the townhouses and apartments would visit the city's downtown to shop because there is no walking path under the nearby railroad bridge to get there.
"People would take the path of least resistance," Haugeberg said. "They would be turning right. They would not be turning to downtown Des Plaines."
The property is surrounded by industrial uses on three sides and homes on a fourth.
Second Ward Alderman Jack Robinson said the site is "prime" for light manufacturing.
Chris Coleman, president of Dearborn-Buckingham, said he and his staff tried to court commercial users for the site upon acquiring it, but those companies weren't interested.
"We believe this property is ideal for residential redevelopment," Coleman said.
The site has sat vacant since Littelfuse, an electrical manufacturer, relocated in 2008.
A number of aldermen also expressed concerns with 29 conditions that the city staff said must be met to approve the project, from parking to the amount of park space in the development.
Seventh Ward Alderman Don Smith, whose ward includes the former Littelfuse site, favors the project, and expressed confidence the developer and city staff could resolve the issues since most were "pretty straightforward."