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Village pursues downtown development leads, hires planner; Metra parking availability under review
Summary
Staff reported meetings with developers (Harlem Irving/Zeller, Peerless) about downtown TIF and potential sites, said they will provide materials to interested developers, announced a new planner starts July 7, and said they are reviewing Metra agreements to determine how many commuter parking spaces must be preserved if redevelopment occurs.
Village staff told trustees June 17 that they recently met with multiple developers about downtown sites in the TIF district and that the village has engaged RTA-related work on parking and zoning analysis while filling a full‑time planner position.
Curtis (Community Development staff) said staff met with Harlem Irving Companies and partner Zeller about potential development near the Metra/metro lot and with Peerless Development Group about the Gula site. He said the village is assembling information for interested developers and will send it as soon as possible.
The nut graf: staff said they are actively marketing downtown sites and coordinating transit/parking analysis with regional partners while adding planning capacity to advance potential projects.
Curtis also confirmed the village has offered and the candidate accepted the full-time planner position; the new planner, Natalie, will start July 7. Trustees asked whether redevelopment at a District 10 building site would affect Metra parking; staff said they are reviewing the existing agreement with Metra to determine required parking minimums and noted Metra has in recent years been more willing to consider adjustments. Staff said RTA involvement in the downtown zoning grant will produce additional analysis on Metra parking and shared-parking models.
Ending: Staff said they will continue developer outreach, provide updated materials to the board, and follow up with Metra to clarify parking obligations before advancing redevelopment proposals.
