La Grange Park’s Planning and Zoning Commission Feb. 21 approved recommendations for a proposed Aldi grocery store in the Village Market shopping center.
The Commission approved a site plan review for a store at 333. N. La Grange Road and gave positive recommendations to six zoning variations sought by Aldi.
“It seems like there is adequate parking,” Commission member Jim Lee said, referring to concerns several residents — and other Commission members — had about parking for the proposed store.
The site plan review approval is binding, but the variations still have to be approved by the full Village Board.
Concern about safety, parking, and noise were expressed by several people during the public hearing.
Representing Homestead Apartments, attorney Greg Andre noted that the staff report “did not mention Homestead as residential,” and stressed that between Homestead and Plymouth Place Senior Living, 10 % of La Grange Park’s population was represented.
Plymouth Place has 350 residents, and is currently adding an additional 59 villas. Homestead apartments is home to 900 residents.
Andre expressed concern for safety and the noise that the proposal would mean with truck traffic only 36 feet from residences.
“We don’t oppose an Aldi, but it’s simply too big for this site,” he said.
Andre also said that Homestead representatives had only received the plans on Feb. 15 and called for the public hearing to be continued.
Jay Biere, CEO of Plymouth Place, submitted a letter expressing concerns.
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He said he was all for redevelopment of the area, but “not at the expense of the safety of our residents.”
His letter, submitted to the Commission members, noted concerns about reduced access to Sherwood Court, used by many residents to access the stop light at Homestead and La Grange Road, so they can gain a safe way to turn left (south) onto La Grange Road.
The letter also expressed concern about increased truck traffic, noting that between staff, visitors, and current construction, there were already “over 500 vehicles traversing our property each day.”
Plymouth Place Board of Directors Chairperson, Liz Asperger, also said that receiving the notification on Feb. 15 was inadequate.
She also criticized the 3-minute time limit given by the commission for residents to speak on the issue, saying it was “frankly appalling” and, considering the project had been in the works for one year, the residents of Plymouth Place and Homestead Apartments had only five days to examine the plan.
Asperger also had concerns about the parking, saying “the parking will not be sufficient on the weekends.”
Commission member Robert Bartholomai asked staff members when notification had been provided.
Deputy Village Manager Maggie Jarr said that the notices to property owners were mailed Feb. 1, had been posted and available at the Village on Feb. 2, and had been included in the Village’s online newsletter for three consecutive weeks beginning Feb. 3.
In a later email communication, Jarr clarified the requirements.
For applications that require a public hearing, “the Village is required to publish notice in a newspaper and post a sign on the subject property at least 15 days, but no more that 30 days, in advance of the scheduled meeting.”
Moreover, the applicant is required to notify by mail “all property owners within 250 feet of the subject property at least 15 days, but no more than 30 days, in advance of the scheduled meeting. The notices were mailed in February 1, 2023.”
Commission Chairperson Caroline Domagalski allowed Greg Andre additional time to express any remaining concerns he felt were not addressed.
He said that if the plan was approved as it was, the two main things that he wanted to protect the Homestead residents were a ban on after-hours truck traffic and a conifer tree barrier along the eastern boundary between the proposed store and the Homestead community.
“No deliveries between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.,” he said.
While Lee was satisfied that there would be sufficient parking, some of his colleagues on the Commission weren’t so sure.
“There’s not enough parking,” Stefania Campo said.
In addition to the proposed Aldi, the site includes a Dollar Tree, the Dinner Club and other businesses. Also included under common ownership is the empty medical building at 321 N. La Grange Rd.
The total number of parking spaces provided by the contiguous sites is 225. The proposed Aldi would cut that number to 176, but that would still be above the 143 spaces required by code.
Robert Bartholomai echoed Campo’s concerns, pointing out that the parking was adequate as long as the medical building was empty.
“Sooner or late we’re not going to have enough parking,” he said.
But Village Attorney Cathleen Keating pointed out that any new tenant of 321 N. La Grange Road would have to meet the Village’s parking codes.
“Otherwise the Village won’t issue a business license,” she said.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.