Mixed use proposal in Lake Villa features retail, apartments
After three years on the drawing board, a proposal for a mix of retail and luxury apartments in Lake Villa is proceeding.
The Tower Drive Development, previously known as Lake Tower Crossing, envisions 82 apartments in five two-story buildings, various retail uses and a Mobil gas station on the southwest corner of Deep Lake and Grass Lake roads.
The project is being pursued by Tower Drive Development Inc., a Khayat Enterprises business. Khayat operates three restaurants in Gurnee, as well as Lakehouse restaurants in Lake Bluff and on Tower Drive west of the proposed development in Lake Villa.
Khayat is seeking village approvals for a mixed-use planned development on approximately 13 acres.
A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. today before the village's plan commission at the village hall, 65 Cedar Ave.
Village Administrator Karl Warwick said planned developments allow for greater control and are required when two or more buildings under a single ownership and/or a proposed development can't be done using traditional zoning.
"It gives us the ability to approve the development of the entire site," Warwick said.
The property is zoned for suburban business, and there are seven entities near the corner, including a bank and The Lakehouse.
"We did not feel the current zoned big-box commercial use was the best use for the area," said Nicole Khayat, company president.
"We have been planning and developing a less intense use mix of multifamily as well as retail for approximately three years," she added.
As proposed, Tower Drive Development also would include a Subway restaurant, a Dunkin' Donuts, Code Ninjas and The Market food outlet. Monthly apartment rents would range from $1,400 to $1,750, according to Khayat.
Initial plan language included "Truck Diesel" as an identifier, which led some neighbors to think a truck stop was being proposed. That raised concerns about traffic and the safety of students attending Oakland Elementary School and Lakes High School located on two of the other corners.
"They're OK with the apartment buildings, but the gas station or truck stop scares everybody," said Rosalie Mazur, a resident of the nearby Painted Lakes neighborhood. "One hurt kid is one too many."
Mazur said she and several neighbors will be at the meeting tonight.
Khayat said the verbiage "truck diesel" on one of the plans refers to diesel fuel to be available for common diesel-fueled vehicles, such as UPS, FedEx or other delivery trucks.
"It's not a truck stop," Warwick said. "There are no shower facilities or (anything) like that."