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Plan commission OKs special-use permit for Honest Restaurant at Park Hill Plaza
Summary
The Orland Park Plan Commission approved a special-use permit allowing Honest Restaurant, a primarily vegetarian South Indian franchise, to occupy two units at Park Hill Plaza (9176–9178 W. 150th Street) subject to meeting building-code requirements; staff found shared parking and past vacancy history support a joint-use parking reduction.
The Orland Park Plan Commission on March 18 approved a special-use permit that allows Honest Restaurant to open an approximately 2,800-square-foot, primarily vegetarian South Indian restaurant in two tenant spaces at Park Hill Plaza, 9176–9178 W. 150th Street.
Staff presented the petition and recommended approval after reviewing the property’s zoning, historical parking occupancy and an existing shared-parking easement for the center. "Staff recommends the planning commission approve a special use permit for a restaurant within 300 feet of a residential parcel," the planning staff member said, citing the staff report dated March 12, 2025.
Petitioner Abel Suga told the commission the restaurant will be all-vegetarian, serving primarily South Indian food. The proposed interior layout includes a main dining area with about 70 seats, a bar and a kitchen; the business anticipates roughly 15 employees during peak hours and plans to operate 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Staff said Park Hill Plaza is a planned development constructed in 1984 with roughly 60,000 square feet of commercial space and 30 tenant units. The center has 293 parking spaces shared by tenants; staff calculated that the full complement of tenant uses would require about 401 spaces, creating a 27 percent shortfall under a straight calculation. Because shared parking reductions of up to 50 percent are allowed, staff reviewed quarterly aerial images and vacancy history going back to 2015 and concluded the lot historically operates at about 50 percent occupancy, supporting a joint-use reduction.
The staff report also cites a written shared-parking easement recorded in 2009 that binds the Culver’s parcel and the remainder of the center (excluding the McDonald’s outlot). The landlord provided a letter acknowledging the parking deficit and the village’s authority to address parking issues if they arise, the staff member said.
Commissioners’ questions focused on parking patterns, trash enclosures and whether neighboring residents had filed complaints. Commissioner Paul said he drove by the site and observed low occupancy at daytime hours, and Commissioner Nugent confirmed the auto-oriented parcels to the west are separate developments that do not share parking. "I don't think another restaurant's going to cause a problem there," Commissioner Paul said.
On a motion by Commissioner Schuster, seconded by Commissioner Paul, the commission approved the staff-recommended action for case number 2025-0126 (special-use permit for Honest Restaurant). The approval is conditional on meeting all applicable building-code requirements and obtaining required permits.
