Northbrook Sets Meadow Plaza Hearing As Opposition Petition Tops 5K Signatures

NORTHBROOK, IL — Residents will have several opportunities over the next two weeks to ask questions and weigh in on the proposed redevelopment of Meadow Plaza before the project reaches the Plan Commission for a public hearing.

The village announced a series of staff open houses, a developer-hosted community meeting and listening sessions with Village Board members ahead of the Oct. 6 hearing at Techny Prairie Activity Center.

The meetings mark the next phase of review for Pulte Home Company LLC's proposal for the shopping center property at 1901 Cherry Lane.

The Plan Commission hearing comes after Village Board members reversed course in August and sent the zoning application to the commission rather than retaining the public hearing themselves. The village received Pulte's formal application Aug. 3.

RELATED: Northbrook Board Reverses Course On Meadow Plaza Review, Sends Plan To Commission

The Oct. 6 special meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Techny Prairie Activity Center, 180 Anets Drive. Village officials said the larger location was selected to accommodate a larger audience. Residents can provide comments during the hearing or submit written comments in advance.

What Pulte Is Proposing

Pulte is seeking zoning approval for a mixed-use planned development on the Meadow Plaza property at the southeast corner of Cherry Lane and Meadow Road.

The formal application calls for 150 for-sale condominium units in three buildings, along with two parcels for future commercial redevelopment containing 5,500 square feet of building space each. The application is being considered as Docket PCD-26-05 and identifies the proposed development as "The Flats and Shops at North Branch."

The property is primarily zoned C-2 Neighborhood Commercial District, with a small portion zoned IB Institutional Building District. Pulte is also seeking subdivision approval, a comprehensive plan amendment for a portion of the site and other zoning relief needed for the project, according to the Village.

The proposal has drawn organized opposition from some residents, particularly over its height and density and potential effects on traffic, flooding, schools and commercial space.

Petition Tops 5,600 Signatures

That opposition has also taken shape online. A Change.org petition titled "Stop Pulte Homes' 6-story condo development at Meadow Plaza" had collected 5,606 verified signatures as of Friday morning. The petition was started June 17 by an organizer identified on the site as "Concerned Resident."

The petition argues that the project would create traffic and safety problems, strain schools and infrastructure, worsen flooding concerns and reduce commercial space. It also objects to the scale of the proposed residential buildings and calls on village officials to deny the requested zoning approvals.

The petition describes the proposal as three six-story condominium buildings totaling 150 units on the existing Meadow Plaza site. Village public hearing materials separately confirm the 150-unit total and three-building configuration.

Upcoming Meadow Plaza Meetings

The village has scheduled several opportunities for residents to learn more about the proposal and provide feedback:

• Staff open houses: 4-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane. Village staff will answer questions about the zoning application and explain the development review process.
• Developer-hosted community meeting: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Hilton Northbrook, 2855 Milwaukee Ave. Pulte will host the meeting, which village officials stressed is not a village-led meeting.
• Village Board listening sessions: 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30; 2:30-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1; and 9:30-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Village Hall. Trustees will be available to hear residents' concerns and ideas regarding the project.
• Plan Commission public hearing: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Techny Prairie Activity Center, 180 Anets Drive. The commission will review the proposal and take public comment.

The village said application materials provided by Pulte would be posted online Friday, giving residents time to review them before the meetings.

Village officials said the proposal remains subject to staff and Plan Commission review and public participation.

More information and application materials are available through the village's Meadow Plaza development page.