Clarendon Hills Dunkin' Donuts Faces Hurdle

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — A DuPage County agency opposes a planned Dunkin' Donuts in Clarendon Hills as the project is now designed.

Last week, the county's Division of Transportation told the village that the developer's traffic study contained numerous errors that needed to be addressed.

Hinsdale-based KrohVan LLC is proposing a 6,000-square-foot building for the southwest corner of Western Avenue and 55th Street, the site of the old Tracy's Tavern. A third of the building would be for a combination Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurant. The rest is for a yet-to-be-determined retailer.

In its letter, the county said it was concerned about potential backing up of the drive-thru onto 55th Street. It said it was also concerned about the lack of left turn lanes, particularly for the proposed volume of traffic.

The developer is proposing traffic signals at 55th and Western. But the county said the signals, as shown, are not buildable and require right-of-way acquisition. It further said the village, not the developer, must apply for the traffic signals and be financially responsible for the construction and maintenance.

KrohVan's traffic study, conducted by Rockford-based Artisan Consulting Engineers, said traffic signals were necessary at the intersection to avoid "massive" delays for north and south traffic. The study also said the drive-through would present a "minimal probability" of backing up on 55th Street.

Clarendon Hills had planned to hold a hearing on the project Jan. 20, but that was recently delayed, apparently at KrohVan's request.

Last fall, KrohVan proposed a 24-hour gas station, along with the Dunkin' Donuts. Neighbors protested having such a station near their houses. Under the new plan, the developer eliminated the gas station and said the Dunkin' Donuts' hours would be open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The village said the new plan complies with the village code, except the drive-thru, which would need approval.

In an interview, Mike Kaspar, KrohVan's director of development, said his company's civil engineers are working with the county on its issues with the plan.

"We're trying to signalize the intersection for safety reasons," Kaspar said. "It's a process."