A plaza space, additional pedestrian walkways and bike paths, smaller parking lot, LEED certification, and three exit lanes are some of the recent changes made to the design plan of a proposed Target store on the west side of Lake Bluff.
Plans for the proposed 140,000-square-foot store on the former site of Shepard Chevrolet, a 14-acre lot located near the intersection of Route 176 and Waukegan Road, were explained at a recent public hearing of the Lake Bluff Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals by Kimley-Horn and Associates, engineers for Target. The plans also include a 4,200 square-foot bank and two retail or restaurant spaces, one 4,162 square feet and the other 5,240 square feet.
The plaza area and social space between the bank and one of the retail spaces would feature a public sculpture by a local artist.
“The purpose of that plaza is to have something more in tune with keeping with Lake Bluff’s downtown, something that allows people to stop and take time to actually linger, socialize, sit down on a bench and enjoy the space,” said Brandon Stanick, assistant village administrator..
Other changes include preventing the Target bull’s-eye logo from extending above the roof line, more transparent windows on the northwest corner of the building, landscaping and green space increased from 7 to 10 percent, and parking reduced to 106 spaces. The firm also explored beautifying the traditional Target facade by using a darker brick mixed with stone.
Efforts also have been made to increase bike and pedestrian connectivity to pathways on the site, reduce pavement widths, preserve existing vegetation, and improve crosswalks and traffic signals to increase safety. With those changes, the building could qualify for LEED Silver Certification, according to Kimley-Horn and Associates.
To address traffic concerns, the plan calls for one entrance lane and three exit lanes, one right turn lane, one left turn lane, and one straight lane.
“They’re widening that entrance at the intersection of 176 and Shagbark Road to ensure adequate traffic flow,” Stanick said.
Despite improvements made to the design, several residents at the public hearing voiced concerns over Target’s effect on local businesses.
“They haven’t convinced me yet that we need a Target in this area and that that’s the best use for this space,” said Susie McMurray, a resident who owns the store Voila in Lake Bluff. “My customers have said if Target comes in, we’re still going to support you. In the long run though, there’s enough crossover merchandise that it could put a dent in the bottom line.”
Other residents praised Lake Bluff’s charm and character, including a former Lake Forest resident who moved to the quaint community to retire. Many cautioned patience and asked the joint commission and board to consider the lifestyle of the town.
“Changes to the plan are impressive, but they don’t change economic impact of a big box retailer coming to a village of this size,” said Kathryn Briand, a Lake Bluff resident. “I’m asking you to consider this. We all have ideas of what our community is like and what we want it to be like in the long term. You hitch yourself to this wagon, and it’s a wagon that has no roots in this community.”
The joint commission and board will continue the public hearing and asked the engineering firm to return with a final plan at the May 15 meeting, said Stanick.
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