Revised plans for a new industrial development along I-294 in Glenview are headed to the Village Board for a vote amid opposition from nearby residents.
The Glenview Development Commission on Jan. 28 unanimously recommended approval of new zoning and a development plan to construct four “light industrial” buildings on 29 acres of land at 2211-2305 Sanders Road. The site consists of a vacant 5-story office building, a vacant 10-story office building and parking areas previously part of the CVS Health corporate campus, and undeveloped land belonging to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Developer Scott Gibbel had initially presented plans for three buildings on the site, but, following mixed reviews from commissioners at a meeting in December, the proposal was revised, with a 218,700 square-foot structure divided into two separate buildings. The total square footage of all buildings on the site was also reduced by 12,500 square-feet, the maximum building height was reduced from 46 feet to 40 feet, and plans for landscaping were enhanced, Gibbel told the commission.
The maximum height allowed under the village code is 36 feet.
The property will consist of 53 potential truck docks and generate approximately 519 daily vehicle trips, said Doug Hammel, deputy director of community development for the village of Glenview.
“We believe this 29-acre site represents a vital economic opportunity for the village, one that will generate significant tax revenue and high-quality jobs,” Gibbel told the commission.
The Glenview Village Board could consider the development at its next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 17.
Gibbel told the commission that the buildings will house only “clean, light industrial” tenants, including manufacturing, construction and trade businesses; wholesale distribution and retail fulfillment; home improvement suppliers; and showroom and sales oriented tenants.
Data centers, waste and recycling centers, public utility facilities, sexually oriented businesses and “intensive logistics and transportation” businesses would not be allowed, Gibbel said.
Under Glenview’s Municipal Code, the zoning classification requested for the site, known as I-2, permits warehouses; manufacturing, packaging, processing and fulfillment facilities; delivery and distribution businesses; and repair services, among other uses. The Willow Road Corridor Plan, adopted in 1990 and amended several times in the years since, calls for office structures or “clean and light industrial” developments for the Sanders Road properties, according to village officials.
The Glenview Development Commission did not vote to place specific restrictions on usage when it voted on its motion to recommend approval of the project. Village Attorney Kurt Asprooth said village staff will ultimately interpret what classifies as “clean, industrial use” and if it meets the parameters of I-2 zoning and the Willow Road Corridor Plan.
Commissioners appeared to agree that if this development is approved by the Village Board, data centers would not be permitted.
But nearby residents have expressed concerns about potential uses of the site, as no specific tenants have yet been identified. During the commission’s Jan. 28 meeting, about a dozen residents voiced opposition to the development, suggesting it will generate unwanted truck traffic and noise and lower property values.
“We do not need 53 more (truck bays) in a largely residential area,” said Jan Zorn, president of the Timberlane Estates Homeowners Association in nearby Northbrook. “Please consider the impact this development will have on the people living in the area.”
Only two speakers voiced support for the project.
“I think this is a great opportunity for Glenview,” said Tom Curtis, a real estate broker. “This development will add value to the community in the next few years, as opposed to letting two office buildings stay vacant and decay.”
