Buffalo Grove officials are cautiously moving forward on a proposal to bring a 158-unit assisted living facility to the village.
At the Village Board meeting Monday night, officials spoke of wanting to tie the proposed facility by the Belmont Corp. with that of a Culver’s restaurant, before approving rezoning of the property on Illinois Highway 83 and Buffalo Grove Road.
Officials said they hope to make both projects as concurrent as possible, expressing concern that the village will end up with the Belmont project only.
The village rezoned the property three years ago for a proposed hotel and banquet facility that never materialized, officials said.
“If that building (Culver’s) doesn’t go up, you don’t go up as far as I’m concerned,” Trustee Charles Hendricks told Belmont representatives.
“I’m not considerably in favor of the nursing home concept. Until that restaurant is in operation … built, you don’t get a yes vote from me–period,” Hendricks said.
Texas-based Belmont is petitioning the village to rezone part of the site from commercial to residential for the assisted living facility.
The firm proposes building a three-story facility on 4.5 acres of the 6.1-acre parcel on Illinois 83.
Of the 158 units planned for the senior building, 134 units are designated for assisted living and 24 units are intended for residents with dementia.
A 4,500-square-foot Culver’s restaurant is slated for the remaining 1.6 acres.
The restaurant is expected to seat 120 people.
The developer has argued that the projects will bring substantial real estate and sales tax revenue to property that has been vacant for 20 years.
Harold Francke, attorney for Belmont, said the corporation was prepared to tie the fate of its operation to Culver’s proceeding with its plans.
But just as the village wants assurances, Francke said petitioners do not want to spend millions of dollars on the project and be unable to obtain an occupancy permit from the village.
Builder Mike Werchek told officials Culver’s has granted him site approval for the fast-food franchise in Buffalo Grove. Werchek said the franchise hopes to soon seek site approval from the village for the project.
Once approved, Werchek said the building can be built in 90 days.
This would be the second Culver’s franchise to open in the area.
The franchise has more than 100 sites in Wisconsin.
