Day Care Proposal Gets Chilly Reception

Citing market saturation and traffic concerns, Vernon Hills officials showed little initial support for a proposal to bring a new day care facility to the village.

Trustees heard a preliminary proposal last week for The Learning Experience to purchase the Superior Ambulance property at 401 W. Sullivan Drive and convert the nearly 12,000-square-foot building into a preschool/day care.

The proposed facility would accommodate up to 170 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

“We have several day care facilities in our community that aren’t filled,” said Trustee Cindy Hebda, who teaches preschool at the Vernon Hills Park District. “I really think we have quite a saturation in the market.”

In addition to that program, officials noted that Vernon Hills is already home to a number of other childcare programs, including two Kindercare facilities, The Goddard School, CDW’s daycare, the and various school- and faith-based programs.

Trustee James Schultz noted that the village recently loaned $2 million to the park district. “So from that perspective, it probably isn’t a good business decision” to support a competing facility, he said.

And, he added, because Vernon Hills collects sales tax, but no property tax, the proposed facility would bring no financial benefit to the village, he said.

Another concern, said Assistant Village Manager John Kalmar, is the cut-through traffic the facility could produce in a nearby residential area. The property is at the northeast corner of Route 45 and Sullivan Drive.

“From our standpoint, any cut-through traffic that would leave this site would be a negative in the neighborhood,” he said.

Trustee Barbara Williams also expressed concern about the driveway at the property, which is “one way in and one way out.”

Traffic during peak hours is particularly a concern, added Trustee Thom Koch, who said he’d like to see a traffic study of the area. “This is not a really good location to get back onto Route 45 after they drop their kids off,” he said. “I see this as being a really bad spot of this use.”

Ken Marino, president of GROBMAR Investments, which is working with The Learning Experience Day Care, said the company is confident there is room for its facility in Vernon Hills.

“This company has a lot of contracts with corporations,” he told village officials. Marino described the program as "slightly more upscale than a Goddard" and said monthly costs would range from $700 to $1,700.

Tom Borchert, who represented Superior Ambulance, said the property was not on the market, but the owner is willing to sell to the day care company.

“The facility is not used to capacity,” he said. If the property is sold, the ambulance company would seek a new location in Vernon Hills, he said.

Borchert said he understands officials’ concerns about traffic, but “it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.”

“I understand, [Route] 45 gets busy, but we’re in the Chicago metropolitan region. Collective streets get busy,” he said.

Marino, who said the plan involves $2 million to $3 million in purchase and renovation costs, was uncertain what his next step would be.

“I think we’re going to regroup with staff and see how we’re going to proceed,” he said.

If the company decides to pursue its plans, it will need to appear before the Planning and Zoning Commission and return to the Village Board to request a special use permit.

Marino said if plans proceed, the facility could be open for business by the end of the year.