Developer Gets Delay for Winnetka East Project

A discussion on Winnetka East, the proposed multifamily mixed-use building at Elm Street and Lincoln Avenue, was pushed back during Wednesday's Plan Commission meeting at the request of the developer.

New Trier Partners asked for a continuance while it considers changes to the preliminary plan for the development, which has been approved by several village bodies. An evaluation of final development plans for Winnetka East was originally on the agenda for the Plan Commission's special meeting.

Michael Klein, managing partner of New Trier Partners, said his firm was weighing new ideas in light of the economy and changes in financing.

"Projects that might be more cost-conscious, more efficient, quite frankly," Klein said.

In a May 31 letter to Village Attorney Kathy Janega, the attorney representing New Trier Partners said the developer discussed "impact of the current market conditions, product demand and financing" and "cost conscious housing" leading up to final approval of the planned development.

The letter also mentioned a few changes to the plans, including "a building with more efficient units (900-1,100 rsf) in a smaller, four-story building on only a portion of the land abutting Elm Street."

The reference to rsf stands for rentable square footage.

Attorney Steven M. Elrod suggested it would be "more realistic" to change the plans in a way that could potentially invigorate the business district and add to the village's "cost effective housing."

Klein declined a request for an interview after the Plan Commission's discussion.

Commissioners granted the developer's request and set Sept. 1 as the timeline for the company to submit new proposals to village staff so the issue can placed on that month's meeting agenda. 

If the updated proposal contains "substantial changes" to the preliminary plan, which was approved by the village council, the entire process would go back to "square one," Janega said.

If there are no big changes in the proposal, the development's preliminary proposal would still be on the table and it would move forward to final approval.

"That said, the developer has an obligation to go forward in good faith," Janega said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to give New Trier Partners time to present a specific plan. Gene Greable, village trustee and Plan Commission liaison, supported setting the timeline to hold the developer accountable.

"Reflecting back on [the] many hours of work on this in [2008 and 2009], these were the questions we had then: economic conditions, financing and demand," he said.

Greable noted the village's current discussions about affordable housing. In its application for final approval, New Trier Partners proposed three affordable units out of the 31 units planned.

"I think it's less than honest to not say that's part of the issue," Greable said. "That's the elephant in the room."

In 2008, New Trier Partners submitted its preliminary application, whose approval was recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Design Review Board.

The Plan Commission, however, said the proposal was not consistent with several objectives in the village's comprehensive plan. In April 2009, the Winnetka Village Council moved forward on the development, approving the preliminary proposals and setting a deadline for the developer to submit a final design plan within 18 months.

The final application arrived two days before the deadline, and no changes had been made to the preliminary proposal, according to reports by village staff.

During public comment, Frank Petrek, president of a condominium association south of the development, said the company has offered no benefits to the village or the project's neighbors in its final plans.

"After all the hours this commission [has spent], there are no changes to the plan that was rejected by the Plan Commission. It's a monumental waste of everyone's time," Petrek said.

"There's no change, no reason for approval, no reason for continuance," he said.

Marc Hecht, a resident, was frustrated that the public was not informed of any changes to the plan.

"I'd like to know, I think the public has a right to know, how long these developments have been under discussion with village staff. How many meetings? Who was there? Why has the public not been involved in the discussion?" Hecht said.

Becky Hurley, chairwoman of the Plan Commission, then closed public comment and said the only thing the board could discuss and decide during the meeting was whether to grant the continuance.

Brian Norkus, Winnetka's assistant director of community development, said the department discussed only "broad concepts" of having a smaller building on the site and including more units with the developer.

After making the motion to grant the continuance, commissioner John Iberle said it was fair to grant the developer the time but hold it to a deadline. He considered the significance of the site and the developer's proposals.

"I see this as being a pretty monumental decision," Iberle said. "Given the amount of time it's already taken, what's a few more months?"