Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vernon Hills board approves reduced façade changes for Farmers Best Market at Hawthorne Mall
Summary
Trustees approved Ordinance 2026-015 allowing a scaled-back façade refresh for Farmers Best Market at 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., after staff and the store’s architect said the smaller scope will speed the store’s April opening; board asked for an updated color rendering before construction.
Trustees on the Vernon Hills Village Board on Feb. 17 approved Ordinance 2026-015 to permit a reduced façade modification for Farmers Best Market at 413 N. Milwaukee Ave.
The village’s director of community development, Director Jennings, told the board the proposal is a scaled-back version of a September 2025 plan that had been adopted as an ordinance; because the newer proposal is smaller in scope staff would likely have approved it administratively were it not for the prior ordinance. “The current plan is a more minor modification that probably would have been approved at the staff level had the previous September plan not been adopted as an ordinance,” Jennings said.
Angel Ostamatoukos, the project architect, said the team trimmed the design to avoid construction delays and open the store in April. “We decided to go with what we're proposing right now due to time constraints…we're probably gonna be opening sometime in April for business,” Ostamatoukos said. Owner Mike Boosas added that interior renovations and some window work are already complete and that the revised exterior is meant to help the center look cohesive while allowing the store to open on schedule.
Board members pressed for a color rendering showing the final materials and how the revised façade will relate to the adjacent storefronts. Trustees noted the current photos in the packet do not reflect recent on-site work and asked staff to request an updated, color rendering from the applicant.
The board moved and seconded approval of the ordinance and adopted it by roll call; all trustees voted aye. The ordinance amends the Marketplace PUD to allow the described façade changes. Trustee comments during the discussion emphasized that the proposal reduces the scope originally approved in September and therefore did not raise the same concerns about design impact.
The village will accept an updated rendering from the applicant as a follow-up; construction is expected to proceed to meet the developer’s April opening timeline.
