Informal approval for affordable townhome proposal in Vernon Hills
A revised proposal for "affordable" townhouses on the site of the former Forge Club in Vernon Hills has been informally approved by the village board.
The 3-1 vote Tuesday overruled the recommendations of the advisory planning and zoning commission regarding rezoning and development of the property, and was a turnaround from an earlier board opinion.
Forge Partners LLC will proceed with plans for 67 three-bedroom townhouses on about 5 acres at 634 S. Milwaukee Ave., adjacent to the Lifetime Fitness health club in the Corporate Woods office park. Developers revised the layout of the community, known as "The Forge," and reduced the number of units from 70.
The Jacobs Companies of Deerfield, which built the Aspen Pointe community along Route 60 proposed The Forge last spring. Trustees at the time considered it a tight fit and contrary to the village's long-range plan for offices there. The plan commission at a public hearing last week agreed, but the proposal at the time was for 70 townhouses.
"They didn't feel like a residential use would be the highest and best use of the property. They also felt the density of the property was too high," Assistant Village Manager Joe Carey reported to the board.
The Forge Club operated for more than 40 years before closing in late 2013 and the building remains. As proposed, the 1,900-square-foot townhouses would be priced from the high $200,000 to low $300,000 range.
"The plan commission did realize that is an important market that is underserved in Vernon Hills," said attorney Calvin A. Bernstein. He described the homes as "upscale yet affordable," adding the property isn't conducive for commercial development.
In voting against, Trustee Jim Schultz reiterated his position he'd prefer the developer acquire adjacent open land to allow for a larger development.
"It's just slapping another little development in there," Schultz said.
Company President Keith Jacobs said the site plan was changed so fewer units have views of the 68-foot tall Lifetime Fitness building, - an original concern of trustees.
The informal approval is subject to 20 conditions. One unresolved issue is the Illinois Department of Transporation requires 75 feet of right of way along Milwaukee Avenue, but the plans show only 60 feet. Jacobs is seeking a variance from IDOT.
The official ordinances for the project will require four votes for approval. Trustees Barbara Williams and Cindy Hebda, who originally had concerns, were absent Tuesday.