Plan Commission approves four zoning and development petitions, including Crate & Barrel daycare and new fire station

The Northbrook Plan Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 30 to approve four petitions and the staff‑prepared resolutions for those petitions. The four items approved were: Crown Castle (180 Annett’s Drive), Crate & Barrel (1250 Techny Road) — a child daycare special permit, a new village fire station at 820 Dundee Road, and a village fleet maintenance garage at 3504 Commercial Avenue. Each approval was by roll call; the items will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action (staff indicated Oct. 14 was the likely board date for most items).

Crown Castle — 180 Annett’s Drive (Resolution No. 25‑PC‑16)

The commission approved a special permit and related variations to allow a personal wireless service antenna on an existing tower‑style structure in the Institutional Business (IB) district, including a requested reduction of required distancing between the tower and nearby structures from 110 feet to 69 feet. The commission waived the staff presentation and then approved staff’s draft resolution. No members of the public spoke on this item.

Vote: resolution approved by roll call (yes: Commissioner Bridal; Commissioner Halperin; Commissioner Morgan; Commissioner Papito; Commissioner Walden; Commissioner Bremen; Chairman Illisco). Tally: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0.

Crate & Barrel daycare at 1250 Techny Road (Resolution No. 25‑PC‑17)

Euromarket Designs Inc. (doing business as Crate & Barrel) sought a special permit to operate an employee‑focused child daycare (SIC 8351) in the O3 General Office / Techny Overlay District. Staff said the proposed daycare would occupy approximately 6,000 square feet on the first floor, serve infants through five‑year‑olds, operate weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (no weekends), and have a maximum staffing of 14 employees. The applicant said the operator will be Bright Horizons and that, although the facility could serve the public if excess capacity exists, the primary purpose is to serve Crate & Barrel employees. The applicant and staff confirmed the site has capacity for 63 parking spaces; the operator expects to operate at 56 children rather than the full 62/63 capacity noted in plans.

Commissioner Halperin said he supported the request, noting he had visited the facility and did not expect queuing or substantial traffic impact because most parents will park and walk children into the building. "I think it's a great idea, and I wish more employers would do that," Halperin said. Staff reported one written public comment raising traffic concerns; commissioners discussed parking and drop‑off operations before voting to approve the draft resolution. The resolution will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action, likely Oct. 14.

Vote: resolution approved by roll call (yes: Bridal; Halperin; Morgan; Papito; Walden; Bremen; Chairman Illisco). Tally: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0.

New fire station — 820 Dundee Road (Resolution No. 25‑PC‑18)

The Village of Northbrook applied to amend the comprehensive plan designation from multifamily to government facility, rezone the property from R2 single‑family residential to IB Institutional Building District and secure several variations and a special permit (for one wall sign exceeding the old code’s height requirement, among other site‑specific relief). The proposed single‑story fire protection facility would operate 24/7; staff said the site constraints required several lot‑width, setback and loading variations. Staff reported the proposed facility would peak at 11 employees and include landscaping, a trash enclosure, and screening. Senior planner and applicant representatives answered commissioners’ questions about fencing and neighbor outreach; staff indicated an 8‑foot composite privacy fence was shown along the east property line adjacent to homes.

Fire Chief David Schweiss described operational reasons for replacement, including the existing station’s age and infrastructure constraints. "That facility was constructed in 1971," Schweiss said, noting additions and changes since then and the need to meet contemporary operational, gender‑inclusive facilities, and code requirements. Commissioners discussed public outreach and found no outstanding objections before approving the draft resolution.

Vote: resolution approved by roll call (yes: Bridal; Halperin; Morgan; Papito; Walden; Bremen; Chairman Illisco). Tally: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0.

Village fleet maintenance garage — 3504 Commercial Avenue (Resolution No. 25‑PC‑19)

The commission approved a petition to rezone a vacant industrial property in Sky Harbor Industrial Park to IB to accommodate a village fleet maintenance facility. The plan reuses the existing building with a small west‑side addition for mechanical equipment and accessibility; staff said the building is approximately 31,000 square feet, would house roughly eight employees, and the proposed use would require multiple variations (including a parking reduction from 35 to 27 spaces and a reduction in required loading spaces). Director of Public Works Kelly Hamill and other staff explained the existing fleet building behind Village Hall (built in 1956) would likely be demolished and that the purchased Commercial Avenue building meets the space‑needs analysis the village completed for fleet services.

Commissioners asked about recycling operations (staff said the village recycling program will not move to the Commercial Avenue site) and apparatus circulation; staff said they tested vehicle circulation and will make door modifications as needed. The commission voted to approve the draft resolution; that item also goes to the Village Board for final action, likely Oct. 14.

Vote: resolution approved by roll call (yes: Bridal; Halperin; Morgan; Papito; Walden; Bremen; Chairman Illisco). Tally: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0.

Ending

All four Plan Commission resolutions will be forwarded to the Village Board for final review; staff identified Oct. 14 as the likely board meeting for those items. The meeting also included a staff briefing about the village’s new zoning code and public comment about meeting notice communications.