Glenview Plan Commission recommended approval Tuesday of an orthodontics office in retail space near The Glen and called for a review of zoning rules that currently ban such uses from areas zoned for limited business uses.
Commission members unanimously approved amending the original planned unit development ordinance for 2300 Chestnut Ave., so Willow Lake Orthodontics can occupy about 3,000 square feet of nominal retail space on the ground floor of the mixed-use building there.
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They also asked Planning Director Jeff Brady to review the 2013 zoning code change that prohibits medical and dental offices from ground-floor retail spaces in B-1, or limited business, districts, where they are permitted only on upper floors.
“Things have changed drastically in just a couple of years,” Commission Chairman Scott Bucklin said.
While commission members said they have no problems with allowing the proposed exception to the rule, they made clear that their approval was specific to this case and not a general lifting of the restriction.
The Plan Commission’s recommendation now goes to the Village Board, which has the final say.
Willow Lake Orthodontics is run by the husband and wife team of Drs. Michael Israel and Barbara Siargos, who bought the practice from Dr. Al Johnson two years ago. The practice has outgrown its current location at 2401 Ravine Way, Israel said.
The couple hopes to renovate the Chestnut Avenue space and move in by April 2016, he added.
Jaimin Patel, whose family owns the commercial portion of the building, said they tried to find retail tenants but no one wanted to rent there while space is available in higher pedestrian traffic areas in The Glen or because the space is too small.
Despite aggressive marketing incentives like massive breaks on rent, no retailer bit, he said.
“It was basically a supply and demand issue: plenty supply of more desirable retail spaces elsewhere in Glenview,” Patel said.
Brady said the 2013 zoning code amendment resulted from directives to loosen restrictions in downtown Glenview in an attempt to promote pedestrian-friendly retail instead of offices that close during evenings and weekends. All zoning districts were re-organized at that time, he added.
“I think it was just an unfortunate oversight whereby the B-1 is our most restrictive commercial district area and (bears) the same standards that were applied for the [downtown district], which is promoting pedestrian-friendly types of retail uses rather than auto-dominated uses or office uses that wouldn’t necessarily generate additional retail trips. Because the B-1 was very close to the [downtown district], the same types of uses were permitted,” Brady said.
“We obviously recognize, especially the Plan Commission, that there was some modifications that need to be met,” he added. “This was just something that has popped up. We’ll be sure to address it in the months to come.”
Just five properties are covered by the B-1 designation, Brady said.
Jon Davis is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.