Plan commission recommends approval for drive‑through restaurant, citing phased redevelopment and traffic controls

The Village of Lombard Plan Commission recommended approval Monday of a zoning petition to retrofit the former bank at 505 West Roosevelt Road into a drive‑through restaurant and small retail space, clearing the way for a multi‑phase redevelopment of the adjacent 11‑acre shopping center.

The recommendation — on petition PC 25‑04 — would allow a two‑lane drive‑through accessory to a restaurant, recognition of historic cross‑parking across the shopping center, and variances to memorialize existing nonconformities with setbacks, landscaping and parking. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action on March 6, 2025.

The petitioners said the corner site will be redeveloped in phases that begin with demolition of an automotive service building and interior renovation of a 35,000–40,000‑square‑foot Dania retail/warehouse building for restaurants, retail and office uses. Mark Daniel, attorney for the petitioner, said the center had been over‑parked since the 1970s and that the redevelopment would “wrap the northwest corner” of the site with tenant spaces and landscaping.

Why it matters: the site sits at the Roosevelt Road/Findlay Road gateway into Lombard and is immediately opposite access points for nearby developments, including the Crowne Plaza and Mariano’s. Petitioners and staff said the drive‑through would improve an underused property and create more active storefronts, but acknowledged that broader traffic issues at Findlay and Roosevelt would be addressed in later phases.

Petitioner presentation and staff review Mark Daniel said the full shopping center was designed historically for about 740 parking spaces and that phase 1 of the redevelopment is already in permitting. He described a phasing plan that includes: (1) demolition of an automotive service building near the daycare, (2) renovation and retenanting of the Dania building, (3) rehabilitation of the larger site including a proposed 50,000‑square‑foot banquet facility, and (4) two new outlots.

Daniel said the proposed drive‑through layout includes two stacking lanes and a prep kitchen arrangement intended to reduce queuing at the menu board. He noted the project team’s coordination with KLOA (traffic reviewer) and that the petitioners had largely accepted KLOA’s recommended modifications included in the staff report.

Anna (staff) read the interdepartmental review committee (IDRC) summary into the record and said staff found the petition consistent with applicable standards; the staff report recommended approval subject to conditions, including implementing KLOA’s recommendations.

Traffic and signal concerns reserved for later phases Multiple commissioners asked whether the additional uses planned across the entire center — including a banquet facility and other restaurants — would warrant a traffic signal at the Findlay Road access or otherwise increase congestion. Traffic consultant remarks in the record noted that different uses peak at different times (for example, drive‑through lunch peaks versus banquet evening events), which reduces the chance that a single peak would immediately meet signal warrants.

Daniel and traffic reviewers said the Findlay Road signal remains a possibility in the future if warrants are met and that the petitioners are open to post‑occupancy evaluations and working with the village on mitigation measures (including off‑duty officers or signal design when warranted). Commissioners emphasized that broader traffic planning — including any signal design or traffic mitigation tied to the center’s full build‑out — would be considered during later, phase‑specific reviews.

Plan commission action Commissioner Versen moved to recommend approval of PC 25‑04, citing the IDRC findings and the petition record; Commissioner Sweetser seconded the motion. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Commissioner Versen, Commissioner Switzer, Commissioner Johnson and Chair Giuliano. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action on March 6, 2025.

What remains: Phase 3 of the petition package will present the banquet facility design and a broader redesign of parking and access. Petitioners and staff said additional traffic analysis and post‑occupancy monitoring are likely steps if the site’s uses are fully built out and operating at planned intensity.

Sources: Village of Lombard Plan Commission public hearing, petitioner presentation and the staff/IDRC report.