Lake Zurich board approves final Life Time Fitness plan
The Lake Zurich village board has approved the final design plan for the new Life Time Fitness center on the former Hackney's restaurant site. There have been some changes since the project was approved by the board in May 2018 after months of standing-room-only meetings.
Aaron Koehler, the director of development at Life Time, said the company purchased the former site of Papa Gus Gyros Chicken & Beef at South Rand Road and Golfview Road. The former Rand Road entrance to Papa Gus will be eliminated, and a new one will be built off Golfview Road.
"We wanted to control that entire frontage," Koehler said Tuesday night. "Not wanting to risk what might go there and not have control over that."
Also, it has taken the company time to incorporate significant design changes made between the first presentation to the village board in fall 2017 and May 2018, he said.
Under the first version, the fitness center was to be three floors with a height of 60 feet. After feedback from the planning and zoning commission, elected officials and the scores of local residents who opposed the proposal, Life Time representatives shrank the design to a height of 40 feet. Because of complaints the fitness center would disturb nearby residents, the proposed building location gradually moved further toward the southwest corner of the Hackney's property to be nearer to the intersection of Rand and Old Rand roads.
The board voted unanimously to approve the final design plan Tuesday night.
Mayor Thomas Poynton, who missed the meeting because he is recovering from heart surgery, said he's pleased significant changes were made to Life Time's plan.
"The project is totally different from when it was first presented," Poynton said. "Some people who live near it aren't going to be happy about it but there could be something way worse there."
Koehler said the company likely would return to the village board in March to apply for a building permit and begin construction as soon as possible.
Trustee Jonathan Sprawka suggested Life Time tell neighbors when they planned to start construction.
Trustee Jim Beaudoin, who ran the meeting in Poynton's absence, thanked Koehler after the vote.
"Good luck to you, I look forward to having a great product and amenity to the village of Lake Zurich," Beaudoin said. "Thank you for your patience. I really appreciate your cooperation with the village and hearing what the residents said and what they wanted."