Huntley’s Fire Station One redevelopment project raises some concerns about parking

HUNTLEY – As reported on in the in-print edition of My Huntley News, Village of Huntley staff have been in negotiation efforts with the Huntley Fire Protection District for the purchase of the former Fire Station One property located at 11801 Coral Street.

During a presentation given by Village Manager Dave Johnson at the Feb. 10 Village Board meeting, it was detailed that the intent of the purchase is to acquire the property, then subject to the terms and conditions of a separate purchasing sale agreement and a redevelopment agreement, convey a portion of that property to current petitioner Billitteri Enterprises, LLC for a mixed-use development.

Johnson told meeting attendees that the proposed price of the property is $375,000, with the village expecting to pay $187,500 at closing. The village will then make five annual payments of $37,500 with the first payment to be made in 2023.

The proposal by Billitteri Enterprises, LLC includes the renovation and reuse of the existing building to incorporate an approximate 5,000 square foot D.C. Cobb’s restaurant with outdoor seating and a retractable roof structure similar to the D.C. Cobb’s location in McHenry.

In addition, three floors of apartment units would be added to the building which would include two studio apartments, nine one-bedroom apartments, and seven two-bedroom apartments for a total of 18 units each with an expected monthly rent range costing between $1,200-1,600.

The proposed redeveloped four-story fire station building would stand at approximately 50 feet tall meaning it would be taller than any building currently in downtown Huntley.

Despite mostly positive reactions towards Billitteri Enterprises’ conceptual plans both at the Village Board meeting and the Feb. 14 Plan Commission meeting, some individuals like Trustee JR Westberg shared parking concerns.

According to Johnson, there are a total of 41 parking stalls currently on the fire district’s fire station property, which he stated would primarily be set aside for residents of the apartment project.

During the Feb. 14 Plan Commission meeting, however, it was reported by the project’s engineer that only 16 parking spaces would be dedicated to residents of the newly developed apartment complex, with one apartment unit having garage access.

“We understand we’re going to have to get creative with parking in the downtown as we develop these uses because the lot sizes just don’t accommodate on an individual basis enough parking for each individual,” said Charles Nordman, Huntley’s director of Development Services.

Johnson explained that there would be construction of 10-foot-wide parking stalls to the east of the fire station property, which would be primarily used for public parking.

“To be able to build this parking field as to tie it in basically from the church to the east all the way across Church Street, Woodstock Street to this proposed parking,” said Johnson. “We’ve had a chance to meet with the neighboring property owner to the north. This offset in the parking does two things: it allows us to create a buffer, a greater buffer between the parking and the home to the north as well as it allows us to keep the existing crosswalk and light pole in place.”

Since 2015, the village has increased the total number of on and off-street parking in the downtown area by approximately 65%, which Johnson explained would help in accommodating added downtown traffic alongside the proposed addition of 231 parking spots.

Johnson explained that the farthest parking spot from the downtown is located in the south side Country Delight parking lot on Mill Street.

“That’s about a quarter-mile. So, over 1,200 feet. In the downtown setting, that’s probably not that far. So, there are hundreds of spaces currently, and what we propose…is an increase in our total parking in the downtown area for an additional 231 parking spaces bringing the total parking both on and off-site to 540 total spaces,” he said. “The overall increase since we started our revitalization is almost 300%. So, we’ve gone from 185 parking spaces in the downtown to 540…Know that parking is a commodity and it’s important for the success of all businesses. I think it’s clear that we’ve obviously done in my mind, a good job of adding significant parking in that part of the community.”

Parking at the fire station property is expected to look similar to that of other Huntley businesses like BBQ King, with construction expected to begin this year pending full approval of construction plans from the Village Board.

Additional parking would be made available to apartment residents on Woodstock Street as well as on First Street which would add the total number of residential parking spots up to 18.

Nordman stated that they are still looking at ways at identifying the vehicles of residents of the fire station property apartments.

A public hearing for the Billitteri Enterprises conceptual plan is expected to take place at the Feb. 28 Plan Commission meeting with final consideration for the plans expected to be presented to the Village Board on March 10.