A proposed four-unit condominium building in Lake Bluff has cleared a key hurdle, setting up the possibility of a final village board vote in the coming weeks.
On Sept. 17, the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals (PCZBA) unanimously recommended approval of a planned development at 570 Evanston Avenue, at the northwest corner of Evanston and Scranton Avenues. The site lies within the area known as Block 3, just east of the village’s central business district.
The property is controlled through an LLC by Lake Bluff residents Jason and Courtney Trombley. As part of the village process, the PCZBA voted separately on two measures tied to the project.
“I think it is going to be a tremendous benefit to the community as we go forward,” PCZBA Chairman Gary Peters said.
The project comprises just four condominiums, located on the first and second floors, along with a partial third floor featuring rooftop decks and an underground garage with eight parking spaces.
While the village board gave conceptual approval earlier this year, the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) had asked for design revisions. Project architect Tom Dobbins told commissioners the updated proposal includes changes to the Scranton Avenue façade, the look of the chimneys, and the use of limestone instead of brick for the exterior. The front porch has also been moved one foot closer to the property line, and benches previously planned along Scranton Avenue were removed following community opposition.
With about a dozen trees on the site, the topic of tree preservation surfaced during the meeting. Dobbins said both a tree preservation plan is in place and a replacement plan will be submitted per village requirements, adding that the high-end nature of the project — with units expected to sell for $2 million to $2.5 million — makes landscaping a priority.
“The owners want nice landscaping,” Dobbins said. “It’s not as though we are going to try to skimp on tree replacement if one of the trees or evergreens die.”
At 34 feet tall, the building would exceed the village’s 30-foot height limit for such developments and therefore requires a variance.
Dobbins stated the project fits the housing goals of Lake Bluff’s comprehensive plan, adopted last May.
Peters agreed with that assessment.
“I think it is a project that meshes with the comprehensive plan. I think you made the modification that the commissioners and community thought was appropriate,” he said.
Neighbor Jean Niemi Mills maintained her longstanding opposition to the plan.
“It will be extraordinarily dense,” she said. “Now, jam this huge structure that is double the size of what it’s supposed to be from a density perspective, I can’t imagine that is something the village will want to do.”
A Lake Bluff official said the village has received communication both supporting and criticizing the proposal.
The project would rise next to another condominium building now under construction by developers Todd Altounian and Peter Witmer. Witmer declined to comment on the neighboring plan.
The proposal will return to the ABR for review, but Village Administrator Drew Irvin said the village board could take a final vote as soon as October.
Daniel I. Dorfman isa freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.