Oswego board backs consideration of Harrison Street Square concept, developer eyes restaurants and public square

The Oswego Village Board on June 24 approved a motion to consider a concept plan for “Harrison Street Square,” a downtown redevelopment proposal centered on reuse of an existing industrial building at 174 S. Harrison St.

Planner Rod introduced the project as a three-parcel concept that would convert the southern parcel’s industrial building into multi-tenant commercial space, reserve a central parcel as an open recreation area and add a cluster of small boardwalk-style commercial structures and food-truck pads near the railroad. The plan includes streetscape improvements — sidewalks, street lighting and on-street parking — staff said are in the village’s capital improvement plan but could be accelerated to support the development.

Jeff Miller, civil engineer and site planner with Watermark Engineering, told the board the owner is eager to move and that some interior building work can start under building permits. “If we can get construction started this year, we would,” Miller said, adding that the park area and streetscape elements are more likely to be completed next year as the project advances through the PUD process.

Petitioner Mike Carmel (identified in the meeting) discussed the project scope and tenant mix, saying the 10,000-square-foot building would be broken into restaurant and retail spaces. “Ideally, he’s looking for a restaurant, a large restaurant, which has an outdoor patio … and hopefully another restaurant, maybe a bakery,” Carmel said. He also described plans for a dog-friendly bar and a fenced dog run on the south end of the site.

Trustees asked about coordination with adjacent property owners and agencies. Trustee discussion noted that parts of the adjacent land are owned by the park district and by Fox Metro, and that the board should consult those entities about streetscape continuity and possible annexation or utility extensions. A trustee pushed for moving up the Harrison Street streetscape work in the CIP to support the project more quickly.

Rod told the board the petitioner will next return to the Planning and Zoning Commission for preliminary and final PUD approval. He noted the project previously went to planning commission on June 5, where commissioners recommended approval by a 6-0 vote.

President Coffman praised the concept and the potential for downtown activation but stressed that formal zoning approvals and permit reviews remain to be completed. The motion to consider the concept plan passed on a roll call vote.

Next steps: the petitioner will pursue PUD approval at the Planning and Zoning Commission and return to the Village Board for any necessary final approvals. If the petitioner moves forward, staff said it may request the board discuss accelerating the Harrison Street streetscape timeline at a future Committee of the Whole meeting.