One Winnetka Rejected by ZBA

WINNETKA, IL - Plans for the One Winnetka development at Lincoln Avenue and Elm Street keep scaling down, but that did not help the Stonestreet Partners development group from getting a recommendation for approving by the village Zoning Board.

The ZBA voted on Dec. 14 not to recommend the project, which now calls for two buildings - one four stories and the other six - to take shape on 162,030 square feet, down from 205,640 in the original proposal according to the Daily North Shore.

“The eastern portion of the building was reduced from five stories to four, standing at 45 feet high. Meanwhile the western building on Lincoln Avenue remains at six stories, 70 feet high in the new proposal, with five three-story townhouses fronting Elm Street.”

Zoning board member Cari Lane questioned to developer’s financial plan, specifically a proposed $600 per year commuter parking fee, which is three times as much as the village currently charges.

Meanwhile, Crain’s Chicago has reported Stonestreet is suing Robert Goldstein, a partner in the project for allegedly misleading them about the amount of time it would take to get village approval and about how the project would be received by the public.

Stonestreet officials took part in a walk-thru of the proposed site with local business owners and residents on Dec. 12. There, a spokesperson said a new underground garage would add 329 new parking spaces to the area and the traffic flow on Lincoln Avenue would be eased by taking the street another 20 feet west.

The Plan Commission has already voted in favor of One Winnetka, but The Design and Review Board has yet to make a decision.

Village Board will make their decision based partially off the three recommendations.