[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6515168,"mediaKeyId","5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737","parentId",5019386,"title","Plan Commission withholds recommendation on Meadowbrook School gym addition after public opposition, votes against staff approval","audioSeconds",4196,"startMs",2366000,"endMs",6562000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737&start=2366&end=6562","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737/thumbnail_2366000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6515168/Northbrook/Cook-County/Illinois/Plan-Commission-withholds-recommendation-on-Meadowbrook-School-gym-addition-after-public-opposition-votes-against-staff-approval","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515168-66603a9f455ef831390b8e5eaa18eb34/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218566&Signature=dCZZ6aIhqJ6NmUBI-pBAzbcl1ucmlYJEbxiFDRkq~GlYogK9skp~pedgUJ3mxM6JM6MkSmSs9N9PrSvHnN4L652zrYmuTZcnw4hvAthrOeti-Rp6hqi13bkvPsLW3XKe0jmIU38p6Ka7R7d62xSQOByCy03BRJt0uFCnh-qk~5MsNMpasc~DBHBJvmXcyDJuz-b~2SxNkh7RJM~ASnO40IgaFyr5w3-4PVw8CUVcZqNWntgOOccYPNesSojztfb0ovQZI-NQWL~LNdxXn0ZHhpgWbJ-darGVH1ZzR2276ZM2czaG0zeqEHcC-BdW2oBDOelq1ciY7wowrh7P~o9XRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northbrook","date","2025-06-17T19:24:00Z","article","The Northbrook Plan Commission voted 5-0 against adopting staff's draft resolution that would have recommended approval of a special permit, loading-space variation and site plan for a proposed gym addition at Meadowbrook School (1600 Walters Avenue).

Staff described the petition as a request by Northbrook School District 28 for a special permit to allow an elementary school use in the Institutional Building (IB) District, a variation to reduce the loading-space requirement from one to zero, and site plan approval for a single-story gym addition of approximately 10,000 square feet plus a roughly 1,000-square-foot temporary connector. Staff said the property predated the current zoning code and that a special permit is required for an elementary school when a substantial addition is proposed.

Architect Eric Sickbert of DLA Architects and Jessica Donato (who identified herself as the district's chief school business official and treasurer) described the project as a single-story gym with a sloped roof (north elevation about 32 feet, south elevation up to about 38 feet), brick-and-stone exterior, and underground stormwater management vault. Sickbert said the district had designed the gym before the referendum passed and that the gym is needed to address existing space constraints for physical education and lunch operations; petitioners said the referendum that passed will result in a larger replacement school to be built later and that the gym is intended to serve current needs while the new school is developed.

More than a dozen members of the public spoke at the hearing. Residents raised repeated concerns about loss of neighborhood green space and mature trees, the gym's visual scale and color palette, stormwater and drainage impacts on adjacent properties, construction parking and truck routing, and the lack of a complete plan showing how the new school will relate to the proposed gym. Several speakers said the gym appeared to be the first piece of a two-phase plan and urged commissioners to see the full school plan before recommending approval. Staff confirmed receipt of multiple written comments and two additional emails delivered before the meeting.

Commissioners repeatedly said they were uncomfortable reviewing the gym in isolation from the full school project and expressed concern about approving site changes piecemeal. After deliberation Commissioners voted against the staff-recommended draft resolution (roll call: 5 no, 0 yes); the commission's negative recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action. Staff advised the commission that the next available Board agendas are tentatively July 8 or July 22.

Petitioners said they have attempted to preserve large/older trees where possible and that they are coordinating stormwater permits with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) as required. The applicant also said construction parking plans and staging are under discussion with the contractor and that access points may be managed to preserve pedestrian routes during some parts of construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northbrook - Plan Commission - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Northbrook Plan Commission voted 5-0 against adopting a staff draft resolution that would have recommended approval of a gym addition, loading-space variation and site plan for Meadowbrook School at 1600 Walters Avenue.","taxTitle","Northbrook, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",55401,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515173,"Plan Commission recommends approval for UL Solutions campus expansion at 333 Fingston Road",1137,1203000,2340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737&start=1203&end=2340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737/thumbnail_1203000.jpg","/articles/6515173/Northbrook/Cook-County/Illinois/Plan-Commission-recommends-approval-for-UL-Solutions-campus-expansion-at-333-Fingston-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515173-26efd00767b9ae9e7411554af07e83ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218566&Signature=QYn9pYRnhS6PaBhfVjDtuCIwoU5IZ4C31r-YNdIKghI2R7MVDiPw3XU2ijUEJ2HVwCGvR-xfnMk~uJwYY4Q~EqEc~1nj1MEFcF3Itf207vNOGxHCm29y3f7g2gV66bqBRYT3psGFjicnTQoCvRPv5hrzlrurjgNdkWQ~nw2i7s5W8-PpAp~DhNekmgFqi45ey0XUukrtq9M2cTTC~pD4UUSbYblE1zW5Eci1-exrLpylAeC1IxExzLzHBmjyCzsDYJmXH~l4rgdSQxzDB68lpreLqfYIxeIuXBj-c3EovgdFfPhsIV-nCYTDmKsUac6RcYJk~nz~vcEXSSHf~X5GGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northbrook Plan Commission voted 5-0 to approve staff's draft resolution recommending zoning relief for UL Solutions' proposed campus expansion at 333 Fingston Road.

Staff described the application as a phased campus expansion that would add two single-story laboratory buildings at the north end of UL's campus: Phase 1 is roughly 81,000 square feet and Phase 2 roughly 37,750 square feet; both are single-story and the Phase 1 building was described as about 59 feet tall. The two additions would be connected by an enclosed breezeway. The applicant also proposes relocated and additional outdoor recreational courts and minor changes to the campus parking layout.

UL Solutions (Stephen Wood, construction program manager) told the commission the project is intended to increase lab capacity for existing operations and that the company does not anticipate an increase in employees or changes to hours of operation as part of this development. The applicant provided a campus-wide parking analysis showing a campus deficit of 131 spaces relative to strict zoning requirements (1,667 required under code vs. 1,536 existing/proposed), a reduction of about 8 percent; the applicant requested a parking variation within the limits allowed by code. The application also requests a special permit to allow more than one principal structure on a zoning lot in the 01 Campus Office District, a special permit for three wall signs that exceed the 20-foot height limit and site plan approval.

Staff noted additional landscaping proposed to screen mechanical equipment along the tollway and said the plans comply with bulk requirements of the 01 District. Commissioners asked about truck routes; the applicant said trucks use West Dundee for deliveries and that Fingston is not intended as a truck entrance.

A nearby resident asked about construction traffic; the applicant said construction traffic will primarily use West Dundee and that temporary signage can be added to direct construction vehicles. After public comment and applicant responses, a motion to approve the draft resolution (25PC-11) was seconded and passed on roll call (Commissioners Bremen, DeBartolo, Caravides, Morgan and Chairman Alisco all voted yes). Staff expects to forward the recommendation to the Village Board for final action, tentatively on a July Board agenda.","The Plan Commission voted 5-0 to recommend special permits, signage relief and a parking variation for UL Solutions' proposed two-building expansion at its Northbrook campus; staff and the applicant said the project will not increase employees or operating hours.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515179,"Plan Commission approves final plat for Reserve of the Brook at 3700 Dundee Road",279,924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737&start=924&end=1203","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019386-4c4c41bc324787e119c40eb224b0f737/thumbnail_924000.jpg","/articles/6515179/Northbrook/Cook-County/Illinois/Plan-Commission-approves-final-plat-for-Reserve-of-the-Brook-at-3700-Dundee-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515179-f45742c74a6a518a86fd91339f87845b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218566&Signature=DBRNBffWmjZyUfnHrPPdOYKmzvlEo1mbf99vOpjnPu1h0Nprnv5oOtwFq90dM8zyUUjpeXFm0d~9PmTgbmTFj0O0ZFpTKUt964pWk~OrMldPx7D3gFiDLTb1AeOrshIGZVRllHsm9y4iPmVREigI7qMluFUbmaTRVtFVfZLjz8YOY7Y12A7E6EfOxB~grCVuuc~7oskK8jGz3inz9lojNb~izF7KOJ1YA~FK90LghdV6TJG6PLNHqpcCJoRnHnnY3mJKyDkr6nszrIy4G49T2HBcZIIZ7n5CDfSgijHnSydithMTXKer~xQI2f6YO-6W3hIwFu6s41tSRu~bfYudzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northbrook Plan Commission voted unanimously to approve staff's draft resolution recommending final plan and final plat approval for the Reserve of the Brook, a townhome planned development at 3700 Dundee Road.

The action implements the second step of a planned-unit development process: concept approval had been granted earlier this year and the applicant returned with a final plat and final plan that staff found to be in substantial conformity with that concept. Senior Planner Patty (staff) told the commission the final materials are unchanged from concept except for two minor code-required refinements: provision of two ADA parking spaces in a guest parking area to meet the Illinois accessibility code and a change to a four-foot picket fence around a detention area for safety reasons.

The commission heard that the applicant has received Architectural Control Commission review and approval for building materials, colors, signage and fencing. Staff noted additional engineering refinements remain to be completed during the site work permit review process. The commission moved to approve the draft resolution prepared by staff; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote (Commissioners Bremen, DeBartolo, Caravides, Morgan and Chairman Alisco voted yes).

The approval forwards a recommendation to the Village Board; staff told the commission the item will be scheduled for a Board of Trustees meeting for final action and that the applicant will need to complete paperwork to meet that agenda deadline. The commission's discussion emphasized that the approved final plan remains substantially consistent with the concept plan that was approved earlier this year, and that remaining engineering and permit reviews will occur through the village's standard site-permit process.

The plan includes two color palettes for the townhomes and a refined fence design; staff said landscape, signage and elevations remain as approved at concept. The applicant will continue to work with village staff on final engineering and permit approvals before site work begins.

The commission's vote was limited to the draft resolution forwarded by staff; the Village Board will take final action on the recommendation at a later meeting.","The Northbrook Plan Commission voted unanimously to approve a final plan and final plat for the Reserve of the Brook townhome subdivision at the former Lady of the Brook site, forwarding a resolution to the Village Board for final action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Plan Commission withholds recommendation on Meadowbrook School gym addition after public opposition, votes against staff approval

Plan Commission recommends approval for UL Solutions campus expansion at 333 Fingston Road

Plan Commission approves final plat for Reserve of the Brook at 3700 Dundee Road