Kia dealership PUD at 250 Skokie Valley Road moves forward; landscaping relief requested

The Plan and Design Commission on Sept. 2 directed staff to prepare findings recommending approval of a PUD and design review for a proposed expansion and remodel at the Kia dealership, 250 Skokie Valley Road, where the applicant requested relief from the code’s foundation and vehicular‑use area landscaping requirements. The commission continued the matter to Sept. 16 with instructions to supply a final parking layout, dimensioned parking stalls and a proposal for planting around ground‑mounted signage.

Why it matters: The project updates the dealership’s showroom and service areas and removes some vehicle storage parking to create an expanded, higher‑quality customer and service area. The applicant asked to waive foundation landscaping and planting islands that code normally requires for paved vehicle use areas; the city has treated similar dealership properties with flexible landscaping given operational constraints.

What staff presented: Anthony Mistretta (Community Development) described the scope: demolition of portions of the building and an addition for showroom and service space (roughly 7,158 sq ft of showroom/sales office and 3,887 sq ft of service reception/shop), removal of approximately 34 pavement/storage spaces where the addition will sit, and a request for landscaping relief (foundation plantings and vehicular use area buffers). Site photos in the packet show surrounding properties with mixed levels of planting; staff noted that code requires a 5‑foot foundation buffer along the street frontage for new construction and a 10‑foot buffer for newly paved vehicle storage areas, and that at least one landscape island would normally be required where parking aisles are laid out.

Applicant remarks: Kevin McGrath of the applicant team said the design follows a higher‑end “gallery” Kia dealership concept the brand uses and that the property’s constrained footprint and operational demands for vehicle display and storage motivate the landscaping relief request. The applicant told commissioners they maintain about 151 total parking spaces on the lot and the code minimum off‑street requirement computed to about 66 spaces; the applicant will provide a clarified, dimensioned site plan showing stall depths and counts in the revised packet.

Commission concern and direction: Commissioners and staff discussed vehicle storage versus customer parking, whether pole‑mounted lighting would change (applicant said existing pole lights will remain and new down‑mounted wall lights will be used at doors), and whether modest planting could be added around ground‑mounted signs to soften the streetscape. No members of the public spoke. The commission voted to direct staff to prepare findings recommending approval and to continue the matter to Sept. 16; commissioners asked the applicant to provide a scaled, dimensioned parking plan and a proposed sign‑area planting treatment for the next packet.

Next steps: Staff will draft findings and the applicant will submit an updated site plan with stall dimensions and a proposed planting/planter strategy for ground signage for the Sept. 16 meeting.

Sources: Staff presentation and applicant remarks at Highland Park Plan and Design Commission meeting, Sept. 2, 2025; statements by Anthony Mistretta and Kevin McGrath.