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Planned day care center meeting resident, village objections
Despite concerns about traffic, parking and flooding, a 12,000-square-foot day care center at the intersection of Rt. 53 and Fremont Way was given the thumbs up by the Long Grove Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals at its July 7 meeting potentially clearing the way for approval by the Long Grove Village Board when it meets July 28.
However, the village board is likely to hear opposition to the project, not only from residents of The Crossings subdivision who live in proximity to the project, but the village of Buffalo Grove as well.
That’s because the site for the Children’s Lighthouse day care is bordered by a state road, RT. 53 and Fremont Way, which is under the jurisdiction of the village of Buffalo Grove. Long Grove officials have called the site unique because access to the site is not under their jurisdiction and maintain that the Illinois Department of Transportation has denied access to the site from Rt. 53, a move that automatically mandates that Buffalo Grove provide access.
Buffalo Grove officials say that’s not the case. In a letter to the Long Grove Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, village staff and village board, Buffalo Grove officials say the project will, among other things, result in a “Failure of intersection for traffic northbound out of the Crossings, Increased residential cut-through traffic throughout the Crossings and cause additional operational and maintenance impacts on Village infrastructure without additional revenue to fund these impacts.”
As for Long Grove’s claim that IDOT has denied access, Buffalo Grove officials told Buffalo Grove Report that “To our knowledge, neither the petitioner nor the Village of Long Grove have applied to IDOT for access to the site. The extent of their conversations with IDOT include a single email to one IDOT employee asking about possible access and constraints.”
In the letter, dated July 7, Buffalo Grove officials indicated that “To date, despite relying on access to the Village right of way, no application to the Village has been filed as required by Title 12 of the Municipal Code. Accordingly, the Village cannot issue access permit(s) for the proposed development.
In addition to approving the day care facility for Board approval, the As for approval, Buffalo Grove officials cited Long Grove’s Zoning regulations noting that Long Grove Plan Commission approved a special use permit for the site that is zoned O / R (Office Research).
BG noted that “Long Grove Zoning Regulations specifically states that “no special use for planned unit development shall be recommended or granted …unless the owner shall establish that the proposed development will meet each of the standards…” Accordingly, the Village respectfully requests that the Village of Long Grove deny the proposed development.
The Buffalo Grove Village Board’s next meeting is July 20. The Long Grove Village Board meets on July 28 at which time a discussion and vote on the project is expected.
Additional information is available from reporting by the Daily Herald about the two public hearings held by Long Grove’s Plan Commission about this proposal can be found at this link and this link.
Economic development challenging village officials
No one said economic development was going to be easy – especially when it came to replacing the former albatross known as Town Center.
Some original plans for development of The Clove have hit some recent bumps that have been out of the village’s control.
Most notably was the sudden closing of Guzman y Gomez, an Australian based fast-casual Mexican restaurant that suddenly ended operations May 22, citing unacceptable financial performance and a difficult exit from the American market. Ironically, the announcement came two days after the village held a “President’s Pick” announcing design plans for The Clove Park which featured food from Guzman y Gomez.
Now that the eatery has stuffed its last enchilada, the question that arises is what will go into the vacated facility. Village officials have indicated that according to the Redevelopment Agreement (RDA), the facility must remain a restaurant.
The Clove currently has a Chick-fil-A, Panda Express and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels that shares space with “sister brands” Jamba Juice and Cinnabon. Other restaurants on site are in the north portion of The Clove that was not redeveloped. They include Sushi Grove and Masa’s Sushi.
Two restaurants are under construction, Naani’s Café and Dutch Bros. Coffee. Dutch Bros. Coffee is located on the outlot that was previously Burger King.
Village officials say that Kensington Development Partners, the firm that is handling the leasing of the retail space at The Clove, is required, by the RDA, to meet retail square footage requirements.
The bottom line, officials say is the village is requiring eateries to occupy many of the out lots with various potential operations (fast-causal vs sit down), various square footages.
The Boston market and the former Burger King sites are not subject to the RDA as they were under different ownership when it was passed.
The other change at The Clove is a bit more complex. When Amazon decided to drop the Amazon Fresh concept nationwide, the planned unit for The Clove was morphed into a Whole Foods. The switch itself did not seem complicated until the June 15 Village Board meeting when the Board approved 8,000 square feet of the 43,000 square foot space to be used for fulfillment.
According to reporting in The Daily Herald, what makes the change a bit complicated is, notes the Herald, “…Having a grocery store as an anchor tenant is key for the village, since the agreements gave the developer access to Tax Increment Financing funds on condition of meeting specific performance goals, including attracting a grocer.”
The change became necessary in May when Kensington amended the site of the planned Amazon Fresh lease with a new tenant, Whole Foods Market Group. The Village staff noted in a Board memo in June that “under Kensington’s proposal, Whole Foods Market would lease the entire 43,000-square-foot space with the intent that the facility will be demised to include a 35,000‑square‑foot Whole Foods Market grocery store, as well as an 8,000‑square‑foot space to be used for fulfillment or storage related to Whole Foods.”
The change and its impact on the Board to address “the introduction of the ancillary fulfillment /storage use and the delays caused by Amazon Fresh’s departure.”
The amendment to the Whole Foods site was approved with one trustee, David Weidenfeld, opposed. The Herald reported that Weidenfeld’s objections were due to the agreement turning the 43,000 square foot grocery site into “the equivalent of a modern-day Sears Roebuck fulfillment center in a supermarket
“That’s not what we bargained for. We bargained for a 43,000-square-foot supermarket.”
In addition to allowing the change in square footage at Whole Foods, trustees also granted Kensington an extension to “ reach substantial completion of the development from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027, with the potential for a 90-day extension.”
In Other Community News
Thefts keep cops busy in May, June: Buffalo Grove police reported nearly 300 incidents from May 1 to June 30. Listed incidents included four reports of battery, three cases of criminal damage to property, three reports of criminal trespass, 14 cases of disorderly conduct which included six by electronic device and eight in-person cases, 20 driving violations, mostly for lack of registration, driver’s license or insurance and five DUIs.
Also reported were two vehicle thefts and 16 thefts, mostly retail at area drug and grocery stories. As always, local code reports are the majority of reports as the department documents most of its activity. For the period from May 1 to June 30 there were 214 local code reports listed. While some may be local ordinance issue handled by adjudication, most reports are for well-being checks, citizen concerns about suspicious people or vehicles and assist to other agencies.
Recent police activity includes:
** Theft of a vehicle registration sticker from a vehicle in the 300 block of Le Parc Circle.
** Two reports of vehicle theft from the 0 – 100 block of Oak Creek Drive
** Theft of a MacBook Pro in the 2300 block of Madeira Lane in which a person signed for the package even thought it was not intended for him.
** Damage to a Postal Service mailbox reportedly blown open “through the use of fireworks.”
** Reports of a business in the 1000 block of Weiland Road being forcibly entered by person or persons shattering a large front window and stole items from the store. Police say this investigation is ongoing.
** Officers responded to Woodman’s Food Market on Deerfield Parkway for a reckless driving complaint. The complainants stated they were being followed by a subject who had threatened them inside the grocery store over a TikTok trend involving a hidden purse.
** Speaking of Woodman’s, police report that Three bottles of alcohol valued at $145.00 were stolen from the store. Police did not report what type of alcohol was reportedly stolen.
** Police are investigating a burglary in the 1000 block of Weiland Road. They say offenders forcibly entered the business by shattering a large front window and stole items from the store.
** A resident told police that they were scammed out of $34,100 by subjects claiming to be with an affiliation with Amazon and the FTC.
Signs honor Sussman
Signs have been erected on McHenry Road (IL-83) naming the section between Deerfield Parkway and Arlington Heights Road “Beverly Sussman Way.”
The signs were the result of approval of Illinois House Joint Resolution 49. Its sponsors were Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59), Rep. Mary Canty (D-54), Rep. Tracy Katz (D-57), Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-30), Sen. Julie Morrison (D-29) and Sen. Mark Walker (D-27).
“The designation of a portion of Rt. 83 as “Beverly Sussman Way” is an appropriate memorial to honor her legacy as one of Buffalo Grove’s most significant educators and public servants,” Didech says.
The state resolution was needed since IL-83 is a state roadway.
“It’s very special to me and my family. There was nobody like Bev and words cannot express how much I miss her,” says Marty Sussman, Mrs. Sussman’s husband.
Mrs. Sussman was Village Board President from 2015 to 2023. She died Dec. 6.
Vernon Library gets grant
The Vernon Area Public Library District will receive $75,150.20 through the Illinois Public Library Per Capita Grant program.
The grant was announced by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias.
Vernon Area Public Library Director Anne Rasmussen said the grant will enable the Library District to “helps us keep up with the high cost of e-books and other digital resources.”
The district says E-books can cost libraries up to six times more than they cost individual consumers, and library e-book licenses often expire after a set period of time or number of checkouts. The grant, it notes, will insulate Library District residents from that financial burden.
Vernon Area Public Library District directly serves approximately 44,000 residents in Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Vernon Hills and neighboring communities. The library offers books, digital resources and innovative programming to support lifelong learning, community engagement and cultural enrichment. Learn more at this link or visit the library at 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire.
You May Be Interested In…
** Cops post traffic enforcement results: Police report that 132 motorists were cited during a special traffic enforcement campaign that ran from June 19 through July 6. This includes four arrests, 54 seatbelt violations and 74 other violations. The campaign was funded federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
** Speed focus of enforcement effort: Have a lead foot? A special enforcement is targeting you. Details are here.
** Parade participants sought: Want to march in the Buffalo Grove Days parade? Applications are now available here.
** Take a walk, read a story: Walking through Reiner Park, 1101 Green Knolls, offers more than a chance to enjoy the outdoors – you and your family can read a story. Check the details here.
** Super Saturday at Library: The Indian Trails Public Library is featuring “Marko Polo”, AKA Mark Pagano, in concert from 11a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 18. Details are here.
Need a Reason to Celebrate?
July 15
July 16
July 17
July 18
Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day
July 19
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** If you didn’t know -- The Buffalo Grove Report, is locally and independently produced by Buffalo Grove resident Stan Zoller. A longtime print journalist and journalism educator, Zoller covers Buffalo Grove and monitors news and information about the village, its schools, park district and community events. The Buffalo Grove Report is not affiliated with any municipal body. Zoller is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Chicago Headline Club.
