Board OKs Block One residential conversion, permits reserved tenant parking

The Village Board on March 9 voted to approve an ordinance permitting LB Village Commons LLC to convert third‑floor office space at Block One to residential apartments and to reserve a portion of the block’s parking for tenants.

Village staff explained that a 2007 ordinance approved the Block One mixed‑use development and established parking provisions (40 required spaces: 28 on site, 12 remote). The owner requested that up to 13 spaces (shown in the packet as yellow stalls) be reserved for residential tenants 24/7 because they were underutilized after business hours; the PCZBA recommended increasing remote spaces to 18 to offset the change in use.

Staff and trustees reviewed the village parking study, which showed downtown parking shortages generally but underuse of the particular stalls at issue during peak daytime counts. Trustees asked about handicap parking, signage and whether future development of the second floor would require additional parking solutions. The petitioner, Greg Handrich, said the developer is still designing unit counts but currently expects the third floor to support roughly five to seven larger units and that second‑floor changes would be re‑evaluated if pursued.

After discussion, the board approved the ordinance on first reading by voice vote and granted the petitioner’s request to waive the second reading to keep the project on schedule. The board recorded a roll call that carried the motion; staff noted the PCCBA’s recommendation and required an increase in remote parking spaces as a condition. Trustees asked staff to improve signage and to ensure that accessible stalls remain publicly usable.

What's next: The developer will proceed with design of the third‑floor apartments and coordinate parking passes/policy with the village; staff will follow up on signage and the remote‑space payment mechanism.