Lake Forest College Facility Proposed for Residential Neighborhood

A Lake Forest couple’s plan to donate their home to Lake Forest College is reportedly drawing concern from nearby residents.

Robert and Anne Krebs hope to donate their 9,200-square-foot home on Walden Road to the college, which would use it as a center for medieval and Renaissance studies, the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Gazebo News reported.

The request was reviewed this week by Lake Forest’s Zoning Board of Appeals, but members said they needed more information before taking action, according to the Gazebo News. Lake Forest would need to approve a special-use permit that would allow a college facility to operate in a residential neighborhood.

The meeting was attended by neighbors who oppose the request.

Opponents from the neighborhood have circulated petitions, gathering signatures of residents who are concerned about “the noise, increased traffic, evening floodlights and other detriments to the neighborhood” that could result from converting a home to a college facility, posted Patch reader Jen, who urged concerned residents to attend the meeting.

The Zoning Board of Appeals’ eventual vote will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.

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