Huntley Plan Commission approves conditional petition for the construction of a new child care center

HUNTLEY – At the Jan. 10 Plan Commission meeting, petitioner Lighthouse Academy and Huntley Crossings Development LLC., owner of Lot 9 of Huntley Crossings Resubdivision (located approximately east of Route 47 and south of Powers Road), came forward hoping to have their petition requests approved to move forward with their plans to build a new child care center.

The petitioner requested for the Plan Commission to approve of amending the Preliminary Planned Unit Development for Huntley Crossings Phase I, while also approving of the Final Planned Unit Development for the construction of a new 10,400 square-foot child care center, including any necessary relief under the plans that have been submitted to and are on file with the Village of Huntley.

The Plan Commission would also need to approve of a special use permit for a child care center within the “B-3 (PUD)” Shopping Center Business—Planned Unit Development District; and a final plat of subdivision.

Plan Commission Chairman Tom Kibort stated that the new lot that is being proposed would be positioned at the northwest corner of the existing Lot 9.

“The new 2.04-acre lot would be located directly east of the existing Culver’s and Sherwin-Williams. The private driveway which spans from Powers Road south to Huntley Crossings Drive, separates the proposed new lot from the Route 47 frontage out lots and bridges a connection between the existing BMO Harris Bank, the anticipated Hampton Inn, and any future development sites planned in Huntley Crossings Phase I or north in Huntley Crossings Phase II,” said Kibort.

The proposed Lighthouse Academy child care center would offer residents a variety of services such as pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten, summer camps as well as child care for children ages six weeks to six years of age. Bus services would also be provided to transport participants in the before and after school programs intended for children ages seven to 12.

The new proposed child care center would also feature an 85-by-85 fenced-in playground area located in the north corner side yard.

Before Plan Commission members could recommend moving the petition forward to the Village Board, village staff added that five conditions should be applied to the petition.

“One, all public improvements and site development must occur in full compliance with the submitted plans and all other applicable village municipal services engineering, public works, planning and building, site design standards, practices, and permit requirements. Two, the petitioners will comply with all final engineering revisions to be approved by the village engineer and Development Services Department,” village staff outlined. “Three, the petitioner is required to meet all development requirements of the Huntley Fire Protection District. Four, the photometric plans shall be resubmitted and approved by the Development Services Department. Five, no building construction, permits, plans, sign permits, or certificates of occupancy are approved as part of this submittal.”

Lighthouse Academy is needing to resubmit its photometric plan due to not meeting the village’s zoning ordinance requiring an average of at least 2.0-foot candles—a unit of illuminance or light intensity—in the parking lot.

After having heard out loud the village staff’s conditions for approval, Plan Commission members were allowed to ask questions or voice their opinions to the petitioners.

Plan Commission Vice-Chair Dawn Ellison shared her concerns on the proposed location of the playground on the north side of the building, citing the traffic on Powers Road and how at times, residents tend to speed through that area.

The petitioner stated that they would look into a solution to prevent cars from potentially driving through the fenced-in playground.

Commission member Richard Zydorowicz also shared his concerns with possible traffic jams in the area due to the nearby Culver’s restaurant already having heavy vehicle traffic.

Shannen Flores, founder and director of Lighthouse Academy, told commission members that she doesn’t anticipate the child care center to cause any issues with traffic, seeing as drop-off and pick-up times would be staggered throughout the day.

The rest of the present Plan Commission members seemed pleased with the site plans and shared their excitement at the prospect of having a new child care center in Huntley.

Flores told commission members that she hopes to have the child care center completed by the end of summer, though that is just an aggressive goal she has.

Following comments from the Plan Commission, Kibort asked for a motion to approve Lighthouse Academy’s petition with the five conditions suggested by village staff. The motion was passed unanimously.

The next step would be for Lighthouse Academy to present its plans to the Village Board.