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Land swap to make commercial property more viable  Share
The Manhattan Planning and Zoning Commission looked over a new configuration for the commercial property at the corner of Rt. 52 and Brookstone Drive. The .98 acre parcel, zoned C-3 General Commercial district on the northeast corner, is planned for a 9,720 sq. ft. retail building. ''Currently, the site is linear in nature along Brookstone Drive and is an awkward shape,'' Development Manager Marc Nelson stated in his report. ''The applicants are seeking to do a land swap with the Village and reconfigure the site along U.S. Route 52.'' The village owns the detention pond to the north and the developer (Sisk Companies) wants to expand the building into that area and give the village the northernmost portion of the original site. ''Obviously, any detention that is taken from the current site will be mitigated on the northern most part of the site,'' Nelson said.''The applicants are seeking comments from the Board and PZC before starting detention calculations.''
Nelson went on to say there are several reasons why this land swap and land reconfiguration makes sense. ''First, with the swap, the site would be facing Route 52 which provides better exposures for the businesses that want to locate on the site,'' Nelson explained. ''Second, it allows for the entrances to align with Crescenzo Commons to the South.'' ''Last and most important, it allows for a loop road around the building to facilitate emergency access to the rear of the site. The new configuration would have access off Brookstone drive and a right-in, right-out access off Rt. 52 with a building that faces Rt. 52. The developer would then have a little over one acre. The swap is not exactly even but there will be other considerations involved. Village gives footage to the north while a triangular piece goes to the village at the east side of the property. ''There was no way to get a rear access around the building, and the fire dept wants access around the building,'' Nelson explained. ''The developers are looking for some direction because they have to do significant engineering for reconfiguration of water retention.'' ''This is something the village is looking for as well,'' Nelson added. ''Does this now make the village responsible for the water?'' Planning Commission member Steve Krol asked. ''This won't affect the creek,'' Nelson responded. ''Our lot is not into the conservation area,'' Gregg Gable of Sisk Developments added.'' We would engineer the pond area so it holds the same volume if not more volume.'' Krol asked if the triangle being given to the village would become a detention area. Yes, was Gable's response. Nelson then assured that through proper engineering the triangle would not affect the creek area. ''I went by there a couple of times. How much frontage is the village giving to you on Rt. 52?'' Krol asked. ''Your lot is very narrow.'' ''Somewhere around 40 feet,'' Gable answered. Although the developers will be gaining a little more ground, the board was told there were other considerations that were being factored in such as a step wall for detention. In other business, the board approved a variance to construct a garage within two feet of the side lot line and within two feet of the rear lot line at 240 S. Eastern Avenue. It also approved a recommendation to the Will County Board with no objection to the rezoning of 17161 Brown Road from A-1 to R-1 to bring the two-acre lot into compliance with the county. Mary Bernhard is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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