Buffalo Grove approves plan for Tesla, apartments on Rohrman site, leaving some unhappy
Over the objections of neighbors opposed to a four-story apartment building behind their homes, Buffalo Grove trustees on Monday approved plans for a mixed-use development anchored by a Tesla sales center on a long-vacant auto dealership lot.
Trustees voted unanimously for the Bison Crossing redevelopment of the former Rohrman property on Dundee Road.
In addition to the Tesla sales and service center, the Shorewood Development Group and Double Eagle Development plans a 224-unit apartment building and 30,000 to 40,000 square feet of retail space on the 16-acre site at 915-945 Dundee Road.
Residents who live south of the property told the village board Monday they support the development, but the apartment building, proposed to sit 79 feet from their property lines, is too close to their homes and would cost them their privacy.
Bob Dinnerman, who has lived there for more than 30 years, suggested shifting the apartment building to the east.
But Shorewood's Ryan Fitzgerald listed several reasons why that wouldn't work. Among them, he said, is that the shift would prevent access from Boeger Road, which would avoid "a traffic nightmare" at Dundee Road.
While developers plan to place trees as a barrier between the apartments and single-family homes, resident Jerry Ostrower believes that will be inadequate.
"(Apartment residents could) look into my house," he said. "I have no privacy."
Speaking in support of the project, village Trustee Frank Cesario said the former Rohrman property has been called an eyesore and a hazard "because of its unkempt condition." He pointed to comparable developments in the area, such as the Cambridge on the Lake condominiums, and noted that the property's zoning would allow less attractive uses, such as a building materials distributor.
Trustee David Weidenfeld said he is sympathetic to the residents who oppose the plan, but doesn't see a better alternative.
"I will not kill the Tesla deal just to do this, because I owe that to the 43,000 people who live in this town," he added.
Village President Eric Smith told Dinnerman and other residents that the village forester will be greatly involved in the project.