The Lake Zurich Village Board listened to a proposal earlier this month from a developer looking to construct dozens of rental units atop a building that would also have two restaurants on West Main Street – near the town’s eponymous lake, reviving plans first mentioned two years ago.
Miller Street Partners told the mayor and village trustees June 3 of its idea for a development on a lakefront property, Block A. The 1.6 acre property is currently vacant.
Miller Street’s proposal was to be one of two similar ones to go before the board that night for a review, but LG Group, the other developer, did not show up.
Miller Street offered preliminary renderings of a four-story, multi-use space including two restaurants on the ground floor. The plan was first proposed two years ago, but the firm made some revisions. Miller Street founding partner Romeo Kapudija said there would be 56 rental units, each one 1,250 square-feet.
“The emphasis was surrounding the lake,” Kapudija said. “We wanted the lake to be visible by all who live there.”
The restaurants would be created and designed by Fabio Viviani, the popular restaurateur responsible for Lago, an Italian steak restaurant in the village, as well as other eateries in suburban Chicago and around the country.
Trustees did not have to vote on the proposal, but some raised general concerns over its community impact, economic viability and noise.
Before Miller Street made its pitch, Mayor Tom Poynton said previously there were residences and commercial spaces on the land. The mayor said a new development, however, could benefit the village.
“In the end, not everything that looks good on paper is economically viable,” the mayor said. “Some projects are simply not achievable despite the developer’s best intentions.”
The new restaurants, Kapudija emphasized, would be part of the community and ideally in business for years.
“It’s put Lake Zurich on the map because so many people are traveling such great distances to visit his restaurant,” Kapudija said of Lago.
Viviani said the two restaurant ideas haven’t been fully fleshed out and are in the early planning stages. But he said one could cater to an upscale American hamburger and grill crowd while the other could focus on Mediterranean and Italian cuisine.
“We want to be a very big component in the growth of good neighbors,” Viviani said. “We’re not open to the wee hours, we’re not open to the party scene too much. Well, we do like it until about 10 o’clock and then it’s time to go to bed.”
The trustees seemed pleased with the hours at least, though they noted a series of potential concerns they would like addressed before any formal proposal reaches the board for a vote. Namely, both the mayor and trustees want to see data indicating a need for 56 new residential units because an existing nearby residential rental development is empty.
“It’s hard for me to give you some review without that,” Trustee Greg Weider said about a needs analysis.
Kapudija said he’s working on that.
Trustee Marc Spacone said the developers could expect some hesitation from Lake Zurich residents on a number of issues.
“Can the road handle the traffic? How do we ensure it’s a safe crossing space for people crossing the road or running or jogging, and that type of stuff?” Spacone said.
Also, he said, merely promising a 10 p.m. close time won’t necessarily put to bed concerns about noise.
“You’re not running a nightclub, I know, but just be prepared to address those concerns,” Spacone said.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.