Board amends North Shore Transit special permit at 2045 Shermer Road, adds ownership‑transfer safeguard

The Village of Northbrook Board of Trustees on a voice and roll‑call vote approved an amended ordinance repealing and restating the special permit for North Shore Transit Inc. at 2045 Shermer Road, removing a previously imposed 10‑year term and eliminating the requirement for annual traffic studies while adding a requirement that changes in ownership or control trigger a reapplication or transfer approved by the board.

The change came after staff reported the operator had complied with prior permit conditions for several years and had submitted annual traffic reports without complaints. President Ciesla said the company had been “a respectful partner” during its time in the village. Planner and staff presentations noted the permit had originally been granted about four years earlier and that the company requested removal of the term and the annual traffic‑study condition because no operational problems had arisen.

Trustees discussed how to preserve oversight if the operator changed hands. Trustee Israel moved to amend the ordinance to require board approval of transfers or changes in controlling ownership and to allow the board to attach conditions it deems appropriate; Trustee Hebel seconded. The village attorney confirmed that any operator taking over under the special permit would need village board approval and that the amendment should explicitly capture changes in ownership of the entity that holds the permit. The board approved the amendment by voice vote and then approved the ordinance as amended by roll call.

Motion and vote details appear below. After the approval, President Ciesla thanked the applicant and encouraged the operator to consider smaller or electric vehicles where feasible, noting concerns about underused large buses and parking footprint.

The ordinance as amended removes the 10‑year term and the annual traffic‑study requirement for the current permit holder, while adding a transfer/ownership‑change provision requiring board approval and permitting conditions at the time of transfer. The board did not specify additional operational limits in the meeting record.

The applicant was present and thanked the board. The village attorney and staff said any future operator seeking to deviate from the permit terms would need to apply and receive board approval.

The board’s action replaces the prior special permit language with the amended conditions described above. No effective date beyond the board action was specified in the meeting record.