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Strategic initiatives committee leans toward keeping Village Center lower level for senior services; blocks non-permitted uses
Summary
The committee recommended that staff not consider applicants whose proposed uses would require rezoning of the P-1 district; members favored keeping the vacated North Shore Health Department space for community-focused senior services and recommended the senior resource center as preferred tenant.
The Strategic Initiatives Committee on Monday considered two proposals for the lower level of the Village Center, the vacated North Shore Health Department space. Committee members signaled strong support for retaining the space for community-focused uses, particularly a shorewood-specific senior resource center, and moved to recommend that the Village Board not consider proposals whose uses would not be permitted under current zoning in the P-1 (public) district.
Background: Two competitive proposals were received. One proposed a real-estate office that would require a zoning amendment to the P-1 district; the other came from the Senior Resource Center and the Elder Services Advisory Board and included a plan to renovate the lower level with support from the Benjamin Fund. Staff paused detailed review pending committee direction because the two proposals were substantially different in scope and one would require rezoning.
Committee views: Committee members expressed a preference for keeping the space within the village’s public uses. Trustee Kudo said her “gut reaction” was to keep the space within village public space; another trustee said the senior resource center’s services were “extremely valuable.” Senior services director Elizabeth Price described how more space would let her staff engage volunteers, run programs for older residents and respond to community needs such as outreach at Riverpark Apartments: “We look at this space as the senior resource center has been cramped in the office. It's limited our ability to engage volunteers and to utilize community resources effectively.”
Action taken: A motion that staff recommend the Village Board reject proposals from uses not permitted under current zoning passed in committee. Several committee members said they would be open to reopening the RFP if other community-minded applicants emerged or if the senior resource center’s plans did not progress within a set timeline.
Why it matters: The decision preserves an important community space next to the library and village hall and prioritizes social services for older residents. It also rejects at this stage consideration of a proposed commercial use that would require a zoning change affecting properties in the P-1 district, which committee members said include schools and religious institutions.
Next steps: Staff will carry the committee’s recommendation to the full Village Board for consideration; committee members asked that the board be kept apprised and that staff maintain flexibility if other applicants submit proposals.
