Politics & Government

Commission Unveils--Then Recommends--Concept Plan

Centered around village-owned property along White Street, the plan outlines principles and expectations for future development.

Call it an pre-emptive marketing strike aimed at potential developers and businesses interested in Frankfort.

That's the idea behind a new concept plan for village-owned downtown property along 1 N. White St. Last week, the Plan Commission recommended the proposal, which now goes before the Village Board for approval.

The concept plan, which was created by the commission in conjunction with community organizations and public open houses, lays out a series of development principles for the land's use and even provides suggestions, such as potential areas for office and retail buildings, condos and even a fountain.

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According to the plan, some of the development principles include:

  • Creating additional open space with active and passive amenities.
  • Providing additional vehicle access to Nebraska Street if possible.
  • Maximizing retail building frontage along White Street.
  • Improving pedestrian and visual connectivity between Prairie Park and Breidert Green.

Commission members were quick to point out that the concept plan doesn't dictate what future developers could do with the land. 

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"This will serve as a guide to see if (a development plan) fits our vision," said Planning Supervisor Zachary Brown.

"As developers come in, we will try to market this to people that this is what we would like to see," he added.

Although the commission is sending the plan before the board now, Brown said it will be a number of years before the area would be developed.

During a public hearing before the commission's vote, residents expressed overall satisfaction with the concept plan. One concern, however, was a worry that potential buildings would be used for office space instead of retail shops, which some residents felt would draw more people to the downtown.

Brown said the village couldn't dictate building use to retail only because of the way the area is zoned. However, commission members did emphasize that they were in favor of attracting more stores and shops as opposed to private offices.

Commission OK's Liquor Sales for Pizza Place

The commission also recommended for approval Durbin's Pizza's request to serve alcohol.

The owners of  at 14 Elwood St., sought a special use permit that would allow them to serve beer, wine and hard liquor, similar to the the previous restaurants--Miritello's and Villa Rosa--that occupied that location. Although those two eateries could serve alcohol, it's village policy to re-evaluate requests by new businesses.

The request now goes before the Village Board for final approval.


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