Northbrook SD 28 seeks village variances to build Meadowbrook gym; neighbors raise concerns

Northbrook SD 28 Superintendent Dr. Pearson told the board on June 24 that the district has applied to the village for a special permit and a variance tied to construction of a new gym at Meadowbrook School.

The district is asking the village for a special permit to continue operating the school on the property while making major improvements and for a variance from a zoning loading-dock requirement, Dr. Pearson said. "We're asking for a variance that is related to operating a school on the property," Pearson said. "The gym setback is 47 feet from the property line."

Why it matters: the Meadowbrook site is a grandfathered nonconforming school use dating from 1955, and new construction can trigger zoning changes that require formal approval. The board was told that the gym footprint was positioned so the new school can be built adjacent to it and to limit disruption to the instructional program.

The district described three specific requests before the village: approval to continue operating a school on the property while improvements are made; a variance from the loading-dock requirement; and approval of the site plan. Pearson said the proposed gym meets required setbacks and other zoning criteria and that the district has been working with village staff since January.

Neighbors have expressed concerns about the gym’s proximity to adjacent properties and construction impacts, and district staff said they are addressing those questions. "We certainly understand the frustration that people feel as things change in their neighborhood," Pearson said, adding that the district held a meeting with neighbors and is working to reduce construction impacts.

The district said it has discussed construction traffic and parking with the contractor, HAP Builders, and told the contractor it cannot park on Marcy Lane or the adjacent cul-de-sac. The district plans to provide on-site and off-site parking with shuttle service for workers when needed, and to install fenced paths to preserve pedestrian connections where possible. Pearson warned that occasional short closures of pedestrian paths could occur for safety during active construction.

District staff explained programmatic reasons for starting with the gym rather than waiting to build the entire school. The gym will relieve daily scheduling, cafeteria and space pressures at Meadowbrook, including overflow classes and shared rooms for gifted and Spanish instruction. "We decided to move forward with the gym whether or not the referendum passed," Pearson said, and added the gym was presented as part of the district’s referendum materials and designs.

Board members asked procedural questions during the superintendent’s report; no village decision was recorded at the board meeting. The superintendent said the village board was taking up the matter the same evening and that the district hopes approvals will allow work to proceed.

Details and context: the district said the current zoning requires a 40-foot minimum setback; the proposed gym is 47 feet from the property line. The district expects to continue planning work for Greenbrier, Westmore and the junior high separately and will bring plans to the buildings-and-grounds committee for next steps.

The board did not take a separate formal vote on Meadowbrook construction at the June 24 meeting; the item was presented as part of the superintendent’s report and described as an active permitting effort with the village.

Looking ahead: the district said it will continue community outreach, publish construction Q&A on the district website and coordinate traffic, parking and path access with the contractor to minimize disruption.