Proposed Walgreens Relocation to Receive Second Public Hearing

A public hearing during Monday night's Plan Commission meeting concerning a possible new Walgreens was attended by an estimated 30 people—many from unincorporated areas—and most were against the idea.

According to village Planning Manager Jeff O'Brien, the complaints were varied, from potential traffic issues to stormwater concerns and more, and another public hearing will be held at the next Plan Commission meeting on January 9 to continue the discourse.

The proposed Walgreens would go up at the northwest corner of 63^rd and Woodward, ultimately replacing the existing Walgreens on 63^rd and Belmont. It also involves the annexation, demolition and consolidation of five residential lots and ultimately rezoning the lots to B-2 for General Retail Business. Currently, three of the five homes are unoccupied, but all five property owners have voluntary submitted annexation approval if the project goes forward.

According to documents, two access driveways for the property are “as far away as possible from the existing intersection to minimize traffic conflicts.” Additionally, the documents cite a traffic study that found “90 percent of the traffic exiting the site will go towards 63^rd street and southbound Woodward Avenue.”

O'Brien expects the Plan Commission will make a recommendation one way or the other after the next public hearing and send the matter on to the Village Council. However, the documents already contain a host of recommendations if the plan is to go forward, with some of those recommendations being:

•No truck traffic allowed on Woodward, forcing all delivery trucks to enter and exit from 63^rd street.

•Hours of operation should be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

•No illuminated signage will be allowed on the north side of the building

•Restriping to provide a two-way center left turn lane on 63^rd street should be considered.

•Street pavement on Woodward should be tested to ensure it can carry vehicles in excess of the currently posted 8-ton limit.

O'Brien also recommends anyone interested in the matter or the next public hearing read the proposal documents, which include the traffic study results, general recommendations, and a host of technical documents.