Residents: Life Time fitness plan is too big for Lake Zurich neighborhood

The gulf between Life Time Fitness, which wants to build a large health club at the former Hackney's location in Lake Zurich, and the site's neighbors seems as wide as ever after a public meeting of the village's planning and zoning commission Wednesday.

So many residents came to the meeting to speak about the proposal that after about two hours of public comment, commissioners asked that the discussion be continued at their next meeting, Dec. 20.

Life Time wants to build a 125,000-square-foot health and fitness club and an outdoor pool deck at the former restaurant, 880 N. Old Rand Road. The three-story building would be 60 feet tall.

Life Time Director of Development Aaron Koehler described several changes to the plan since it last came before the village in August, including moving the building 62 feet further on the south end of the property.

Asked whether he would consider reducing the facility's height, Koehler said that would require making it wider. He said he thought the proposed height was fine, drawing laughter from many in the standing-room crowd.

Among the project's opponents is resident Maury Vandeneykel, who said his house is located 20 feet from the site.

"If you don't think this is going to affect my quality of life, you're crazy," Vandeneykel said.

Mike Gannon, another neighbor, said he believes Life Time is trying to put too much building on the property.

"They are trying to put a round peg into a square hole," he said.

Not every resident at Wednesday's meeting was against the plan. Saleem Molani said he had been going to the Life Time Fitness in Schaumburg for 17 years and it made life better for him and his family.

Sarosh Saher, the village's community development director, later said Life Time could submit more documentation or change its plan between now and the December meeting.

Koehler said Life Time is willing to work with the community

"Our goal is obviously to build a facility here, but we're open to hearing the commentary tonight and continuing this conversation," he said. "Our intent is not to plow forward at all costs."