The Waukegan Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 8 recommended approval of a map amendment, a front‑yard setback variance and a club‑lodge hall conditional use permit for a proposed Ooma/UMA Community Empowerment Center at 510–520 10th Street. The commission also accepted the applicant’s decision to withdraw the vocational‑school conditional use (Zoning Calendar 2822) to allow reapplication later after additional planning.

Staff said the property, a former school building adjacent to an existing Ooma Harvest Market, is presently zoned R‑3 (general residential) and that the applicant seeks rezoning to B‑2 (Community Shopping) to permit a two‑phase project. Phase 1 would include a gym/multipurpose space, computer lab, a fitness/health area and administrative offices; phase 2 would add vocational and trades learning spaces, a learning kitchen, a health clinic and other community services.

Scott Hezner, the project's architect, told commissioners the building has been remediated and stabilized, with a new roof and substantial interior work completed. "This building has been completely remediated of all hazardous material...this building is completely, gutted on the inside," Hezner said, noting the project's reliance on phased fundraising and the need to make the facility accessible.

Staff acknowledged limited on‑site parking (four spaces) and described a handshake/overflow plan with Mount Moriah Christian Center (in North Chicago) that offers approximately 54 spaces for larger events; staff said street parking and bicycle facilities would supplement on‑site capacity.

On procedural options for the vocational‑school conditional use (phase 2), Planning Director Noelle Kisher Leppard advised that conditional use permits expire after 12 months if operations do not begin, and suggested withdrawal of the phase‑2 application to preserve the applicant's ability to reapply at a later date without the one‑year restriction that follows a denial. The applicant accepted that course and withdrew the vocational‑school CUP while moving forward with the map amendment, variance and club lodge hall items.

Commissioners then voted to recommend approval of the map amendment, the setback variance and the club lodge hall conditional use; each motion passed by roll call. The items will advance as recommendations to city council. The applicant said phase‑1 work is expected to be significant and targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2027, with later phases contingent on fundraising and further review of vocational‑training details.