The Plan Commission has given one plan for U.S. Highway 30 commercial development the go-ahead and sent another back to the drawing board.
Commissioners on Monday said developers of the proposed Nelson Plaza, to be built on three lots at U.S. 30 and Nelson Road, could proceed with negotiations and building plans. But they asked for a reworking of development plans for the commercial area near U.S. 30 and Schoolhouse Road.
John Finnemore, vice president for construction at Polygon Associates, said his company hoped to break ground at the Nelson Road site within 30 days if all the necessary permits come through.
The plan calls for two large commercial buildings on two of the lots, and a smaller retail center on the third, Finnemore said.
No leases have been completed, but developers are negotiating for a Walgreens outlet to occupy one of the large buildings and would like to see a restaurant in the other one, he said. “Ideally, a couple of bigger anchors and some smaller (stores) in between” would occupy the retail center, he said.
The Nelson Plaza site is designed to link up with the Jewel-Osco store planned for the west side of Nelson Road and the Eagle Country Market shopping area to the east, Finnemore said.
Commissioners said the developers of the Schoolhouse Road commercial site should scale down their building plan instead of asking for a variance from village setback requirements.
Susan Ghelerter, an attorney for the developers, said the project needs a setback of 16 feet from U.S. 30, instead of the required 30 feet, to accommodate parking needs.
“We’re dealing with something very close to a very busy road,” said Cory Lund, the commission chairman. “The building (proposed) is perhaps a little too ambitious for the space.”
