Commission recommends Larkin High School stadium upgrades despite neighbor parking concerns; vote 5-1

The Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 8 voted 5-1 to recommend city council approve a plan development and master-signage amendment for stadium improvements at Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Avenue.

City planning staff described a project that would convert the existing athletic field into a formal stadium with synthetic turf, an upgraded track, new bleacher seating totaling 2,250 capacity, a 7,627-square-foot concessions and locker-room building, a 1,500-square-foot covered pavilion, two ticket booths, a scoreboard placed east of the stadium (peak height about 20 feet with a 189-square-foot sign panel but no electronic message center) and new fencing and landscaping. Staff said existing on-site parking is about 540 spaces; the current code requirement with the stadium's capacity would be 430…