Board approves street vacation and site plan for five‑story mixed‑use project at 8101–8107 Skokie Boulevard

The Skokie Village Board on Monday approved a street vacation and site-plan approval for a proposed five‑story mixed‑use building at 8101–8107 Skokie Boulevard following a Plan Commission recommendation.

Mary Banduso reported that the Plan Commission recommended approval on Nov. 21, 2024, by an 8–0 vote, with one member absent. The petitioner requested multiple variances including building within the required 15‑foot sight‑distance triangle, a 0‑foot rear yard where five feet is required, an interior ramp with a 16% grade rather than the 10% maximum, and an 18‑foot two‑way driveway width instead of the required 24 feet. Banduso said the developer agreed to provide one affordable housing unit at 80% AMI.

Trustees approved Plan Commission Case 2024‑37P (street vacation) on a roll call motion moved by Trustee Pierce Logan and seconded by Trustee Klein. The board then approved Plan Commission Case 2024‑38P (site‑plan approval for 8101–8107 Skokie Boulevard) on a motion by Trustee Sudcker seconded by Trustee Cooney; both motions passed by recorded roll call votes with trustees present voting aye.

Trustees asked about why the affordable housing requirement produced only one unit. Staff explained the project had entered review before the village’s affordable‑housing ordinance took effect; the petitioner agreed to provide a single unit at the 80% AMI level as a voluntary commitment consistent with timing of the application. One trustee raised concerns about the scale of the variances granted and asked whether the village had negotiated additional public benefits in exchange; staff said much of the relief reflected constraints typical of an urban corner site and that no additional concessions beyond the single affordable unit were required.

The approvals will allow the developer to move forward with building‑permit processing subject to any conditions listed in the final plan‑approval documents.