Despite Neighbors' Concerns, Algonquin CarMax Approved

ALGONQUIN, IL – CarMax will be coming to Algonquin. The Algonquin Village Board this past week approved a final planned unit development to construct a new showroom and service building on the former Durolife property at the southwest corner of Randall Road and Huntington Drive. The village board also gave the green light for a sale tax rebate that is not to exceed $800,000 for CarMax, which plans to spend millions to redevelop 15 acres of land on property, according to village documents.

The village board approved the plan in a 5-2 vote Tuesday, according to local media reports. The sales tax deal was OK'd in a 6-1 vote.

The proposed CarMax has gotten plenty of blow back from those living near the proposed used-car dealership. Noise, the route where customers will test drive cars, the appearance and location of the dealership have all been cause for concern to those living in a neighborhood nearby.

Maribeth Kehoe, of 255 Aberdeen in Algonquin, voiced concerns over the traffic generated by the project during a July Committee of a Whole Meeting. And questioned how that traffic could affect neighborhood children, according to village documents. She also said she is in real estate and thinks property values of Algonquin homes will tank if this business was approved.

But ultimately, village officials said bringing CarMax to the village was a plan for the vacant site along Randall. The business is expected to bring in $300,000 in sales tax revenue after the incentives plan with the village expires in 10 years.

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Up until then, the village will offer a rebate of 50 percent to CarMax as long as the dealership obtains the appropriate demolition, site development and building permits; demolish the former Duro-Life building; complete site work and complete construction by Jan. 1, 2022. An occupancy permit in place by the end of 2022, according to the agreement.

If the CarMax is up and running by the end of 2020, the village will offer a sales tax rebate of 75 percent for any sales occurring that year and a rebate of 60 percent for 2021, according to village documents. The total amount of sales tax revenue shared with CarMax will not exceed $800,000.

Village President John Schmitt said the CarMax dealership made a lot more sense along the Randall Road corridor than the property's former industrial use.

"This is not a tough choice. I'm amazed that anybody's even concerned about this," Schmitt said. "This is the right thing to do at the right time with the right business. I'm ecstatic about this."

Community Development Director Russell Farnum said CarMax representatives have heard residents concerns in recent weeks and have addressed them. Farnum added more landscaping has been added as a buffer between the CarMax and area neighborhoods and the company created a route for those planning to test drive cars that avoids residential street and must be re-approved by the village board if any changes are made, according to the Daily Herald.

"I know there may be some fear on the part of the neighbors," Farnum told the Daily Herald. "But we're ending up with a much better project than what they envision we're going to get there."

Photo caption: Thr Duro-Life building will be torn down to make way for the new CarMax. PHOTI CREIT: Amie Rowland