Frankfort Trustees Approve New Building For Abri Credit Union At Vineyards Of Frankfort Retail Center

By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press:

FRANKFORT, Ill. — The Village of Frankfort Board of Trustees has given Abri Credit Union the green light to build a new bank facility with three drive-up lanes in the Vineyards of Frankfort retail center.

The item was passed in two motions on Tuesday, July 6 — a 6-0 vote approving the planned unit development and a 5-1 vote allowing for the drive-up lanes. Trustee Michael Leddin cast the dissenting ballot on the second motion.

“Abri Credit Union is under contract to purchase Lot 3 in the Vineyards of Frankfort retail center and proposes to construct a new 2,550-square-foot, standalone bank facility on the vacant outparcel located at 20553 S. LaGrange Road,” Trustee Adam Borrelli said during the discussion. “The project will feature a three-lane, drive-up component on the eastern side of the parcel behind the proposed structure and will be shielded from view from LaGrange Road.”

Borrelli said that Abri Credit Union currently occupies a tenant space within the Vineyards of Frankfort plaza and will relocate once construction of the new facility is completed. He added that the item was discussed by the Plan Commission at a public hearing on June 24.

Despite the unanimous recommendations from the Plan Commission to the board to approve the item, issues were brought up at the meeting regarding the adjacent property, Dunkin Donuts, to the proposed new bank site.

“What this plan does is it runs all of the traffic into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot, and there is no easement for that allowed,” said Robert Huguelet, an attorney representing Dunkin Donuts.

He also said the proposed driveway is the entrance to the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru lane.

“So, it is going to create much congestion,” Huguelet claimed. “We submit that this traffic will depreciate the value of the subject property.”

Dave Grobart, an attorney representing Abri Credit Union, said the business has tried to work with the adjacent property owner to come to an understanding about the easement issues. But he said the other property owner has not been receptive to those conversations.

“We believe we’ve come up with a plan that is fair for Abri, works for our neighbor and will allow both of us to prosper and succeed at that location,” he said. “We are not trying to impact their business.”

When asked if Abri Credit Union might consider delaying if a legal review was conducted, Grobart said that the business might lose the property if it went beyond the deadline for the contract.

“I think they’ve just thrown up a number of things to try and create an issue at the last minute simply for this purpose, hoping that the project will die by their delay,” Grobart said.

He also said the property was placed under contract in September or October of 2020 and that Abri has been in its current location for more than 20 years.

“They require the drive-thru component of the facility to remain competitive with the other operations of banking and financial institutions in the area,” Grobart said.

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