Gurnee planning board recommends rezoning 1125 North Delaney Road to allow broader commercial uses

The Village of Gurnee Planning & Zoning Board on Feb. 4 voted to recommend that the Village Board approve a zoning map amendment for a roughly 0.3-acre parcel at 1125 North Delaney Road.

Assistant Community Development Director Jake introduced the petition, saying the owner, Elizabeth Gainfield, requests the parcel be rezoned from O1 (Restricted Office) to C3 (Heavy Commercial) to restore the property’s prior commercial classification and allow a broader range of uses, including medical, dental and veterinary services. "The petitioner is seeking to restore the prior commercial zoning to allow a broader range of uses," staff said during the hearing.

Mike Levin of Add Properties Commercial, representing the petitioner, testified that he has been marketing the building and had received inquiries from veterinary companies. "We've been getting a lot of calls from veterinary companies that wanna move into the area," Levin said, explaining that the interest prompted the rezoning request.

Board members and staff discussed site constraints and compatibility with surrounding zoning. Staff noted the site is legal nonconforming under current O1 transition-yard setback standards and that C3 zoning would remain nonconforming unless the site is redeveloped. Staff also said the subject parcel is surrounded by C3 zoning to the east, north and west and by R3 residential zoning to the south, and that a 1999 ordinance had previously changed the property’s zoning to O1.

On allowed uses and redevelopment constraints, a staff representative confirmed that C3 would allow a gas station but emphasized that any new structure, pavement or parking would have to meet C3 transitional-yard requirements. Staff provided specific setback figures: the building would be allowed up to a 20-foot setback (the existing building currently sits at about 15 feet) and pavement/parking would require a 30-foot setback from the residential edge, which would constrain redevelopment on the already tight site.

After closing the public portion of the hearing (no members of the public spoke), a motion was made and seconded to forward a favorable recommendation to the Village Board to rezone the property from O1 to C3. The board took roll call and recorded affirmative votes; the motion carried, constituting a favorable recommendation to the Village Board. Staff said it will notify the petitioner when the Village Board will consider the zoning amendment.

The Planning & Zoning Board also approved several sets of minutes and discussed scheduling; staff said the Feb. 18 meeting will likely be canceled if no public hearings or plats are submitted.

What happens next: This Board's action is only a recommendation. The Village Board will make the final decision at a later hearing date to be announced by staff.