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Plan Commission recommends approval for UL Solutions campus expansion at 333 Fingston Road
Summary
The Plan Commission voted 5-0 to recommend special permits, signage relief and a parking variation for UL Solutions' proposed two-building expansion at its Northbrook campus; staff and the applicant said the project will not increase employees or operating hours.
The Northbrook Plan Commission voted 5-0 to approve staff's draft resolution recommending zoning relief for UL Solutions' proposed campus expansion at 333 Fingston Road.
Staff described the application as a phased campus expansion that would add two single-story laboratory buildings at the north end of UL's campus: Phase 1 is roughly 81,000 square feet and Phase 2 roughly 37,750 square feet; both are single-story and the Phase 1 building was described as about 59 feet tall. The two additions would be connected by an enclosed breezeway. The applicant also proposes relocated and additional outdoor recreational courts and minor changes to the campus parking layout.
UL Solutions (Stephen Wood, construction program manager) told the commission the project is intended to increase lab capacity for existing operations and that the company does not anticipate an increase in employees or changes to hours of operation as part of this development. The applicant provided a campus-wide parking analysis showing a campus deficit of 131 spaces relative to strict zoning requirements (1,667 required under code vs. 1,536 existing/proposed), a reduction of about 8 percent; the applicant requested a parking variation within the limits allowed by code. The application also requests a special permit to allow more than one principal structure on a zoning lot in the 01 Campus Office District, a special permit for three wall signs that exceed the 20-foot height limit and site plan approval.
Staff noted additional landscaping proposed to screen mechanical equipment along the tollway and said the plans comply with bulk requirements of the 01 District. Commissioners asked about truck routes; the applicant said trucks use West Dundee for deliveries and that Fingston is not intended as a truck entrance.
A nearby resident asked about construction traffic; the applicant said construction traffic will primarily use West Dundee and that temporary signage can be added to direct construction vehicles. After public comment and applicant responses, a motion to approve the draft resolution (25PC-11) was seconded and passed on roll call (Commissioners Bremen, DeBartolo, Caravides, Morgan and Chairman Alisco all voted yes). Staff expects to forward the recommendation to the Village Board for final action, tentatively on a July Board agenda.
