Mundelein — The Village Board voted Nov. 11 to vacate a public alley south of 428 North Chicago Avenue, a step project representatives said is needed to convert the old Water Building in the Bank Triangle area into a brewery and outdoor pedestrian space.

Trustee Wilson introduced the recommendation of approval and Trustee Lambert seconded. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; the mayor announced the motion carried.

Project representatives introduced the Fenton family — Nancy, Joe, Ben and Alice Fenton — and a site designer who showed diagrammatic plans and renderings for the Bank Triangle redevelopment. The presenter described the scheme as centered on the Water Building with a tasting room at the front, outdoor patio space using garage door openings, a pedestrian walkway through the vacated alley and branding elements including a mural. The presenter said a cross‑access parking agreement with the nearby bakery will provide parking and that the development will comply with and “exceed all the parking code regulations for the village” and provide required ADA spaces.

The presentation said site utilities and an enclosure for the brewery’s CO2 and glycol systems would be placed in the north parking area, and a dumpster enclosure and staff parking would be located to the north. The presenter indicated design details and requests for any required variances would be returned to the village later in the review process.

Board members praised the family’s entrepreneurship and asked for clarification on parking coordination; the presenter confirmed portions of the parking agreement have been signed. The board approved the alley vacation to enable the Fenton proposal to proceed through the village’s development review process.

Next steps identified during the meeting included follow-up submissions for specific variances and formal review of any requested signage or mural permits; the motion recorded at the meeting created authority for the village to vacate the alley and clear the way for those subsequent reviews.