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Plan Commission approves Forest View PUD tweaks after neighbor concerns about lighting and security
Summary
Forest View LLC won commission approval to amend its final PUD to revise awning designs, adjust lighting, refine unit sizes and expand rooftop decks; staff recommended two conditions, the petitioner confirmed camera coverage and light shields, and neighbors urged continued mitigation for light spill and access through a gap in the fencing.
The Plan Commission voted May 13 to recommend approval of an amendment to the Forest View final planned-unit development that revises storefront awning details, adjusts lighting to recessed rope lighting in the facade, and updates unit layouts and rooftop decks.
Steve (community development staff) summarized the requested changes, telling commissioners the petitioners sought revisions to exterior awnings (from solid panel, fabricated black metal awnings to an open-frame design) and to lighting (replacing recessed downlights in awnings with recessed ‘rope’ lighting integrated into the facade). He said staff had reviewed a corrected residential-unit plan and noted that the petitioner’s latest submittal shows 10 residential units (staff corrected an earlier staff-report notation of 12).
Boris Stradevskiy, representing the petitioner, told the commission the unit-size changes resulted from working within an existing structure (“we were forced to go column to column”), and that changes to awnings and lighting were intended to avoid exposed fixtures and to create a cleaner built form. "This is inside the window sill itself — it's not an outside element," he said when explaining the new rope-lighting approach.
Neighbors raised two recurring concerns. A resident identified by the chair as Mr. Goldman said a parking-lot light had previously shone into bedrooms; he asked that the light remain off or be fitted with a shield after construction. Petitioner representatives said the light had been turned off, shield covers had been ordered and they would install or verify shields as part of final buildout. Another neighbor, Katie Bartel, asked whether cameras would monitor the opening in the fence that abuts Shadow Bend; the petitioner said cameras would be in place 24 hours a day and positioned "face down" to capture walking areas rather than neighbor yards.
Commissioners had largely positive comments about the design and asked staff to confirm existing PUD conditions remain in force (for example, that required light shields are part of the original PUD). Staff recommended approval with two conditions: that construction substantially conform to the last-revised plan set and that required Wheeling building permits be obtained prior to commencement of work.
The commission recorded the recommendation to the Village Board. Staff said final permit review would confirm compliance with previously required shielding and photometric limits and would ensure the revised plans meet village standards before releasing modified permits.
