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Rivian proposes 39,000‑sq‑ft Skokie Boulevard facility; Northbrook board refers plan to Planning Commission
Summary
Rivian presented a preliminary plan for a combined sales, operations and maintenance facility at 1804–1818 Skokie Boulevard; the Village Board voted to refer the special‑use request and site plan to the Planning Commission for formal review.
Rivian, the electric vehicle maker, has proposed a 39,000‑square‑foot facility at 1804–1818 Skokie Boulevard that would combine sales, vehicle delivery quality checks, operations and maintenance, Village of Northbrook staff told trustees during a preliminary review.
The company’s materials, presented to trustees as a nonbinding preliminary review, describe parking for up to 56 vehicles (13 are required under code), 63 new employees (12 part‑time; the rest full‑time), and both showroom and service space including indoor areas for maintenance and a display area for customer visits. The site is currently zoned I‑1 (industrial) and designated in the comprehensive plan for industrial and commercial services; the developer seeks a special permit for motor‑vehicle dealer and repair facility, site‑plan approval, and a rear‑yard variation.
Village staff and trustees discussed circulation, truck access and landscaping; staff said the applicant submitted site‑impact materials and that the review will proceed on a consecutive schedule for zoning entitlements and building plan review. Trustees and staff also discussed a potential sales‑tax rebate agreement consistent with the village’s past practice for motor vehicle dealers; staff said any rebate discussion would return to the board.
Trustee comments were uniformly favorable in the preliminary review. Trustee Hebel, Trustee Israel and others credited staff for moving the proposal forward; several trustees noted existing auto dealerships and showroom uses on Skokie Boulevard and said Rivian could complement that corridor. A representative from the applicant team was present.
After discussion, the board voted to refer the request to the Planning Commission for formal review and any required public hearings.
That referral does not grant zoning approvals. The Planning Commission will review the special‑use application, site plan and any requested variations; final action, including any sales‑tax incentive, would return to the Village Board after the planning process.
