Residents Concerned About Proposed Assisting Living Facility

A proposed assisted living facility project at 23830 N. Midlothian Road got the thumbs-up to move forward in Lake Zurich’s approval process at the Aug. 21  meeting.

Meanwhile, however, residents living adjacent to the site are giving the project a thumbs-down.

Mike and Carol Rizzo, who live at 23752 N. Midlothian Road, are concerned about the proximity of the development to their property, privacy and safety, drainage issues, and increased traffic on Midlothian Road, which already experiences congestion.

Andrew Royster, the project manager from Denver, Colo.-based Spectrum Retirement Communities, attended a courtesy review at the meeting to explain the company’s proposed development location and details.  

It would be located along Midlothian Road north of downtown Lake Zurich and on the west side, past Lake Zurich High School.

Erica Court, which is located off Midlothian Road, would be reconfigured to fit into plans and used as access into the facility, if the village approves the project, said Village Planner Vijay Gadde.

The facility would include 80 assisted living units, 24 of which would be memory care units. 

Royster said the 68,000-square-foot, two-story building would have “extensive landscaping and an aesthetic feel.”

There also would be a looped driveway, according to a letter from Spectrum to the dated Aug. 5, for "optimal fire department access," in addition to 36 regular and four handicapped-accessible parking spaces.  

For the last 75 years, the Rizzo family has owned their property, which is located directly south and adjacent to the boundary line where the proposed facility would be built.

The couple is concerned about the idea of such a development right in their backyard.

“We know the proposed development is probably a reality; what we want is a barrier between our backyard and where the building would be,” said Carol Rizzo. “Our great-grandchildren play on our property, and we feel there will be increased traffic with cars, ambulances and even fire trucks that would create safety concerns.”

The Rizzos would prefer a boundary fence be installed and be tall enough to provide security, along with some sort of sound barrier for anticipated noise increases.

Other concerns relate to drainage issues in the area due to the proposed creation of a parking lot and road access off Midlothian Road.

“There could be flooding issues — there would have to be some kind of drain,” Mike Rizzo said. “They would be closing a water hole, so how is the water going to run uphill? There is already flooding in our area.”

Mike Rizzo said his fears are well-founded. 

He said ponds off Midlothian Road heading toward Old McHenry Road already overflow, and the road drains off Echo Lake Road near and the , where four to five feet of standing water is an issue.

Heavy traffic is already an issue on Midlothian south of Old McHenry Road, the Rizzos said, and they feel the new development would add even more congestion.

“One day, I counted 35 buses running on Midlothian within a half-hour period in the morning, in addition to trucks and high school kids driving to school,” said Carol Rizzo. “In the morning, we can’t even get out of our driveway.”

Looking out the back bedroom or bathroom windows of their home, a two-story facility would be well within sight.

“It’s the fact that this would be so close to us and to other properties near us; it’s just out of place,” said Mike Rizzo.

“We know they have the right to develop, but not at the expense of property owners in the area,” said Carol Rizzo. “We need to feel like they are respecting the fact that the property here started out as a residential area.”

The matter will come before the plan commission meeting Sept. 21, and taxpaying residents living within 250 feet of the proposed facility will be sent notification about the meeting in the coming weeks, Gadde said.

“The plan commission meeting is the time for issues or concerns to be brought up, and if residents cannot attend, they can send a letter to the village so that their concerns are addressed,” said Gadde.

As far as the Rizzo family's concerns, Gadde said many can and should be addressed by the plan commission. 

“A traffic study is part of the review and will determine what the impact would be on the area; and in regards to drainage, when a property is re-engineered, there won’t be a release of more water but rather less to make it better,” Gadde said.

Gadde added that the village must adhere to the Lake County stormwater management process when addressing potential flooding.

Concerns about safety walls and noise barriers also will be addressed at the plan commission meeting, Gadde said.

“We will have to determine what height fencing would be and have that go through the public input process; sound barriers will also be part of the conversation,” Gadde said.