Plan Commission approves multi‑tenant retail building with drive‑through at Huntley Crossings

The Village of Huntley Plan Commission unanimously approved Petition No. 23-04.03 on April 24, 2023, granting a Special Use Permit for a drive‑through and final Planned Unit Development for an ±8,400‑square‑foot multi‑tenant retail building on Lot 6 of Huntley Crossings Phase I.

Senior Planner Scott Bernacki described the site, which is zoned B‑3 (PUD) and subject to the Rubloff Annexation Agreement, and said the petitioner OM Group intends to develop up to four tenant spaces. Bernacki listed prospective tenants and uses that the petitioner shared while final lease agreements were being finalized: a Wing Stop quick‑service restaurant, a retail liquor store, an unnamed quick‑service/carry‑out restaurant, and The Human Bean, a drive‑through espresso café.

Why it matters: the outlot will add food and retail capacity on Route 47 within the growing Huntley Crossings shopping area and establishes conditions for drive‑through operation and signage that affect traffic circulation and neighborhood aesthetics.

Bernacki outlined site circulation: primary vehicular access is from the rear private roadway running parallel to Route 47, with cross access proposed to adjacent outlots; the drive‑through lane stacks 10 vehicles to the pick‑up window and six vehicles to the menu board with overflow queuing placed internal to the site so queuing would not back onto the rear roadway. The commission required a full‑curb rumble strip at the drive‑through entrance to prevent direct queueing from the rear roadway.

Architect Steven Kolber described building elevations using dark gray face brick, stone piers and fiber cement board accents, with parapets raised to screen rooftop equipment. Landscape plans proposed 39 trees and 220 shrubs but requested relief for a shortfall of 17 trees; staff required alternative species selections for two plantings and additional screening for ground‑mounted mechanical equipment. The petitioner requested relief to allow additional wall signs (six extra signs) and side/rear signage with specific area overages for several tenant spaces; final signage and photometrics must be resubmitted to Development Services.

Commissioners raised operational and design issues: Commissioner Terra DeBaltz sought assurance the drive‑through would not back onto the rear roadway and was told stacking and a full curb would prevent that; Commissioner Joseph Holtorf asked that Route 47 landscaping be coordinated with neighboring developments for corridor uniformity; Commissioner Ron Hahn questioned the lack of southern cross access to the BMO Harris Bank outlot, which Director Charles Nordman said had not been planned at the time earlier developments were designed. Chairwoman Dawn Ellison asked that plantings near the entrance apron be low rise to preserve sight lines; the commission added that as a condition.

The Plan Commission approved the petition 6-0 (MOTION: Commissioner Terra DeBaltz; SECOND: Commissioner Joseph Holtorf). Staff and commission conditions include full compliance with Village codes, Huntley Fire Protection District requirements, a full‑curb rumble strip at the drive‑through entrance, matched prairie‑style pole and wall lighting, brick bases for directional signs, revised landscape species and screening for mechanical equipment, annual mulch and plant replacement, and a requirement that no building permits, sign permits, or Certificates of Occupancy are approved as part of the current submittal.