Lombard trustees approve first reading for Birch Plaza Phase 3 redevelopment

On July 17, 2025, the Village of Lombard Board of Trustees voted to approve on first reading a set of zoning entitlements for the third phase of the Birch Plaza redevelopment at 505 and 515 West Roosevelt Road and 1210 South Findlay Road.

The plan before the board would repurpose the former Dania building for retail, restaurant and a banquet facility; convert the former bank into a Bumper to Burger with a drive-through; convert an auto-glass building into a smoking establishment; and build two new retail outbuildings along Roosevelt. The project will reconfigure the site’s parking field and circulation.

Trustees were asked to consider a new planned development with several companion conditional uses and deviations: an allowance for outside display of goods, a conditional use for a restaurant with entertainment (the banquet facility), permission for more than one building on a lot of record to accommodate the outbuildings, various signage deviations, a parking deviation permitting 688 spaces in place of a calculated 775-space requirement, and a variance for sidewalk alignment on Findlay Road because of limited right-of-way and grade constraints.

Trevor, a village planning staff member, summarized existing site conditions and the three-phase redevelopment timeline. He told the board that phase 1 (interior renovations in the former Dania building) is underway, phase 2 (the Bumper to Burger and the smoking establishment) received approvals in March and is in permitting, and phase 3 (two new buildings and parking/ circulation reconfiguration) was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission on a 4–0 vote and returned to the board for a first reading.

Brendan Mayer, a consultant with KLA (traffic/parking consultant), presented the parking analysis the village used to justify the requested reduction. The study assumes shared and multipurpose trips — for example, customers parking once and visiting several tenants — and concluded the site’s peak demand can be accommodated with 688 spaces. Mayer noted the analysis assumed self-parking; he said valet operations would likely improve effective parking capacity.

Trustees asked about pedestrian and bicycle access and how the project ties into corridor improvements. Trustee Jesse Hammersmith, representing District 2 and speaking as a neighborhood resident, said neighbors had raised concerns about pedestrian crossings and walkability at the busy Roosevelt/Findlay intersection. Village staff confirmed that a pedestrian push-button signal exists at Findlay and Roosevelt and that the village is pursuing corridor pedestrian improvements, including a planned shared-use path north of Roosevelt between Wilson and Roosevelt consistent with earlier work on Wilson Avenue.

Trustees also pressed for documentation on project financing before the second reading. Attorney Mark Daniel and members of the developer’s team said the developer has financing plans and that some work has already begun; the developer indicated the property was purchased for cash and that construction loans are expected to follow as leases and revenue streams are established. Trustees requested either a bank confirmation or a letter of credit/comfort letter to provide assurance that public improvements and project phases can be completed.

Cross-access between the Birch Plaza site and the adjacent Lombard Toyota parcel remains under negotiation; village staff said the plan commission-approved design moves the cross-access intersection about 150 feet south of Roosevelt, a configuration staff considers safer and more efficient. Staff also noted the developer has the current easements necessary to implement the proposed alignment.

Trustee Mettello moved to approve the first reading; Trustee Wagner seconded. The board voted by roll call: Trustee Levesque — Aye; Trustee Hammersmith — Aye; Trustee Mettello — Aye; Trustee Wagner — Aye. The motion passed. Staff said the item will return for a second reading and final action at the board’s Aug. 21 meeting.

The development team on the record included property owner Mohammed Yaqoob and counsel Mark Daniel. KLA consultant Brendan Mayer answered technical questions on parking and circulation. Village planning staff presented the requested entitlements and cross-access update.