After nearly four hours of discussion last week, the Oak Park Plan Commission rejected plans to build a 20-story tower in the village’s downtown.
The nine-member panel was deadlocked 4-4, one vote shy of approval, with one member recusing himself. Without five votes, the tie amounts to a rejection, according to plan commission attorney Jacob Karaca.
Chicago-based Sertus Capital Partners is looking to build a high-rise at the corner of Lake and Forest, which would consist of 270 apartments and two floors of retail space. But they first needed an OK from the commission on two zoning variances related to parking and density.
After the decision, Michael Glazier, a principal for Sertus, said he would have preferred a positive vote, but he’s hopeful the village board will say yes. If not, they have a bevy of options, he said, such as building on their lot without any zoning variances, or selling their land.
“There’s a variety of options that are available to us, but our intent is to get it approved,” he said. “To throw this away would just be a shame. I think it would have some adverse effects in trying to attract other developers to come to town.”
If the village board fails to approve the development, Sertus would need to “substantially” change their proposal in order to resubmit it, according to Village Planner Craig Failor. That could include drastically reducing the size or changing the use. Otherwise, they’d have to wait another year to resubmit the same plan.
David Barsotti, one of the opponents of the development, thinks Sertus should take another look at its plan and reduce the size and density of the building. He thinks the village board would be doing a disservice to the community by disagreeing with the plan commission.
“If the board votes to approve this, it will just show that they represent special interests over the citizens of Oak Park,” he said.
Those voting against cited concerns about the project’s density. Under the current ordinance, Sertus would only be able to build 98 units with the amount of land they have, as opposed to the proposed 270 units.
“You’re tripling the density [that’s allowed] and the idea that that’s not going to negatively impact everyone who walks, drives or lives anywhere near that area is not believable to me,” said Commissioner Mark Benson, who voted “no” along with Susan Roberts, Deborah Fausch and Douglas Gilbert.
Those opposed didn’t cite concerns about parking — Sertus is asking for a variance for that, too, as they’re only providing 228 spots for the apartments and retail space, while zoning requires 373. But they did gripe about how the project might create downtown gridlock.
“I think traffic is one of the major issues,” said Gilbert. “Lake Street is a logjam, we all know that.”
Sertus already received an OK for the project back in January 2010, but it is being reviewed again because the developer is switching from a hotel-and-condo concept to rental apartments. Certain zoning variances that were already approved, such as the height, are not being debated again by the commission.
On the other side, Commissioner Steven Rouse said he liked the project much more without condos and a hotel. After reading reports and hearing testimony, he’s convinced the building’s apartments and retail space will fill up quickly.
“I think it’s important that it’s something that is in demand, will be filled up and will have a use,” he said.
Chairwoman Linda Bolte said she, too, is concerned about the project’s density, but not enough to reject the proposal.
Commissioners Gail Moran and David Mann also voted yes. Sonny Ginsberg recused himself from the vote, since he was appointed partway through the process and had missed some of the earlier discussions, and because Sertus’ attorney works for Ginsberg’s law firm, Ginsberg Jacobs.
The Village of Oak Park owns an aging public parking garage at the corner, wrapped around Sertus’ vacant piece of land, and is partnering with the company on this development. Village hall is expecting to pay almost $10 million for 300 public parking spots in a new 588-space garage. Sertus would pay for the remaining 288.
The village board will have the final say on whether the development moves forward when it takes up the recommendation on Dec. 5. Overturning the plan commission’s recommendation will require a super-majority of the board, or at least five out of seven board members voting to overturn the recommendation.