The Lake Forest Plan Commission approved the latest set of plans for a large residential development at the intersection of Laurel and Western avenues, sending the project to the City Council for consideration.
By a vote of 5 to 1, the commission voted on Jan. 20 to recommend a plan by Focus Development to build 12 single-family homes, 42 condominiums and 110 apartments on the site bordered by Western, Laurel and Franklin Place. Only Commissioner Jeff Kuchman voted against the project, saying the multi-unit buildings, at 45 feet, were too tall.
Most of the commissioners, however, said they were satisfied with changes made by Focus Development after a Dec. 9 meeting. The two sticking points at that meeting had been the grading of the site – particularly at the northwest corner where the single-family homes are planned – and parking.
Christine Kolb, development manager for Focus Development, said that though it would require additional engineering, they could reduce the grade at the northwest corner by one foot. Other parts of the north border could be reduced one to two feet, said Cathy Czerniak, community development director for Lake Forest.
Also at issue during the Dec. 9 meeting was parking. The commission agreed to a total of 282 parking spots, 20 less than normally required, Czerniak said.
Of the 282 parking spots, 260 would be in an underground garage and 22 would be on surface streets, according to plans. Another 20 parking spots would be “land banked” along the median of a north-south street – meaning the median could be converted to 20 parking spots at a later date if needed.
During the public comment section, resident Richard Wood who lives nearby, said he was unhappy about the height of the grade and multi-unit buildings.
Resident Paul Hammond said there were too many units proposed for the site.
“Please do not put in a high-density development,” Hammond said.
Resident Debbie Dent wanted to know how much Focus Development would pay for the site. Czerniak said the city is still negotiating with Focus on the sale price.
Czerniak added that one of the conditions of plan commission approval was that no disturbance would be allowed to an ancient swamp white oak tree on the southwest corner of the property, which is known locally as the “Heritage Tree.” While maintenance of the tree would be the responsibility of a homeowners association, the city reserves the right step in if required, officials said.
“I’m happy to see a lot of the blanks filled in,” said Commissioner Guy Berg, adding that he was satisfied with the grade reduction on the northwest corner and the heights of the multi-unit buildings.
“I think the project has come an awful long way,” said Commission Chair Michael Ley. “I think it meets the test of a high quality project.”
Commissioner Tim Henry said that he thought parking, heights and density had been “sufficiently vetted” over the course of more than a year that the plan commission has reviewed the project.
On Oct. 29, the town’s building review board recommended the City Council approve the project with further refinement to the plans subject to review by a subcommittee of the building review board and city staff members.
The project will next go to the City Council, a vote tentative planned for sometime in February, said Czerniak, though she said a date has not yet been determined. If approved, construction on the project could start in the spring.
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The site would be built in two phases. Phase one would take about 18 months, Czerniak said, and would include all three apartment buildings, the central condominium building and the six single-family homes to the northwest. A second phase would include construction of a condominium building near Laurel Avenue and the six single-family homes to the southwest.
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