Vernon Hills commission backs Guzman Gomez drive‑thru with conditions on signs, landscaping

The Vernon Hills Plan Commission voted on a package of approvals for a proposed Guzman Gomez Mexican Kitchen at 701 North Milwaukee Avenue, recommending a special use for a restaurant with a drive‑thru and a set of sign and setback variances while attaching conditions on signage, landscaping and pedestrian access.

Kelsey Neil Nolat, zoning and entitlement counsel for the petitioner, told the commission the team proposes demolishing the former Top Fitness and constructing a roughly 2,406‑square‑foot Guzman Gomez with one drive‑thru lane, an outdoor patio and parking. “We respectfully request your recommendation of the final site plan, the architectural plans, the landscaping plans and our request for zoning relief,” Nolat said.

Jason Trombley, head of U.S. development for Guzman Gomez, emphasized the importance of a drive‑thru to the concept, saying “the drive‑thru is a very important part of our business” and that the chain is testing U.S. locations to build brand recognition. The petitioner’s civil and design team (Kimley Horn) said the plan provides stacking for 12 vehicles at the drive‑thru and that the site layout was revised through technical review to reduce requested relief.

Commissioners and staff pressed the team on vehicle circulation, grading and pedestrian access. A commissioner asked how drivers in the right ordering lane would merge into the single pickup lane if the left lane were full; the petitioner agreed to return with specific striping and signage recommendations and to work with staff on a merge schematic. Staff and commissioners also raised concern that headlights from queued cars could sweep onto Town Line (Route 60); the petitioner agreed to extend and enhance plantings on northeast and northwest corners and to preserve existing berms where possible.

The commission’s action package included: a recommendation to approve a reduced rear parking setback (from the code‑required 10 feet to the requested five feet), a recommendation to approve the special use for the restaurant with drive‑thru, and mixed votes on signage variances across four building elevations. The body reached consensus to treat the large painted mural on the building as architectural art for the purposes of the square‑footage calculation in this case (a discretionary, case‑specific interpretation), but left broader sign‑code changes for future review.

On signage, the commission approved north and west elevation variances, initially denied the south and east elevations, then approved a modified east elevation after the petitioner agreed to reduce that sign’s square footage by about 20 percent. The commission also approved a variance allowing directional signs to exceed the usual three‑square‑foot exemption and include business identification graphics.

Chairman Morris summarized conditions adopted as part of the commission’s recommendation: the trash enclosure gate shall be prefinished gray rather than plain galvanized metal; the petitioner will work with staff to design striping/signage to facilitate the merge from two ordering lanes to one pickup lane; landscaping on the northeast and northwest corners will be extended or altered to mitigate headlight impacts; and the petitioner will investigate possible pedestrian connections to Town Line and/or adjacent inline retail where feasible.

Andrew (staff) told the commission he would package the plan commission’s recommendations and the conditions into the board submittal and anticipated forwarding the item to the Village Board with an August 12 hearing date. The plan commission’s favorable recommendations are advisory; final approvals and any ordinance language will be decided by the Village Board.

Votes at a glance: the rear parking‑setback variation and the special use for the restaurant with drive‑thru were recommended by voice/roll call with unanimous support from the commissioners present; sign‑code variances were split by elevation, and a 20 percent reduction on the east elevation was approved to reach a majority.

The petitioner agreed to return to staff with refined striping and signage proposals for the drive‑thru merge, updated landscape plans showing additional screening at the corners to address headlight spill, and any feasible pedestrian access options. The plan commission also asked staff to note the monument/ground sign wording (specifically whether ‘drive‑thru’ should appear) for the Village Board’s consideration.

The project’s next procedural step is the Village Board review; staff indicated it expects the item to appear on the board agenda on Aug. 12.