A new development will break ground soon at the lakefront in Lake Zurich after the Village Board approved plans for it at a recent meeting.
The board approved plans for for a 4,200 square foot mixed-use development, named “The Sanctuary of Lake Zurich,” will likely see construction begin in the coming weeks. Approval came during the July 19 meeting.
The development, at 300 North Rand Road, will include 23 town homes and a restaurant. It will be located across the street from the Life Time Athletic facility.
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Mike Schroeder, the director of the Lake Zurich Lake Property Owners Association spoke in favor of the project.
“We’ve been working with the developer, Romeo Kapudija, and his team,” Schroeder said.
He said the plan to add 24 motorized boat slips and six additional spots for non-motorized craft works for the community.
“We look forward to Romeo and the owners joining this great community and the LPOA,” Schroeder said.
The plan, introduced by Trustee Dan Bobrowski, will develop just over 4 acres and create three buildings – three stories tall – plus the boat slips. The residential units will be priced starting around the “upper $500,000” range, according to the developer. And the development will include a restaurant.
“The proposed commercial building is a single-story structure with a drive-through facility, outdoor seating and space for up to two businesses,” Bobrowski said.
He explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission had already given the OK to the project back in May.
At the top of the meeting, one resident complained that the residences look like army barracks. No one on the board, including the mayor, shared this view.
Kapudija addressed the board and said he’s been building in the Chicago area for decades, though he’s now moving outside the city limits, and he believes the residents of Lake Zurich will appreciate the design as well as the restaurant. He’s doing business in Lake Zurich as LZ Development Group.
“We’re very excited about the design,” he said. “(Architect) Jeff Funke has done a fantastic job laying out this property.”
Kapudija flatly rejected the opinion that the design looked like army barracks.
“It’s going to be a complement and a beautiful addition to the corner,” he said.
Kapudija could not reveal the name of the restaurant, though he said it would be an Italian steakhouse and he promised it would be a high-end eatery not “a McDonald’s or something of that nature.”
Funke was also on hand to address the board and offered assurance that the space will be attractive. He said the property is one of the “last great” place on the lake, so he was careful to create residences that won’t clutter the view of boaters or neighbors.
To that end, every porch will screened in, so passersby won’t see outdoor furniture, grills and other porch paraphernalia.
“We wanted to create outdoor terraces that covered up a lot of the things you put on the terrace, the barbecues, the chairs, and so … that was a challenge,” Funke said. “And Romeo wanted to create outdoor spaces on every level to take advantage of the space and the great corner.”
Trustee Jon Sprawka praised the work Kapudija did in meeting with residents and village officials prior to designing the buildings.
“I appreciate your partnership with the village and also with the community members. That’s something we encourage developers to do,” Sprawka said. “Overall, I think this is a great job of fielding all the feedback and incorporating it into the design of the project. … I think plenty of service men and women would kill for barracks like this.”
Kapudija told the board he wanted approval before closing on the land deal, and with trustees’ OK at the meeting, he said he expects to begin work on the project within weeks.
Besides giving the greenlight to the development itself, the board also approved a formal development deal between the village and LZ Development Group. That deal is intended to ensure the group will make necessary plans for and maintain public spaces.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.