Lake County Gazette

Village of Deerfield Village of Deerfield met May 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commission:

The Plan Commission of the Village of Deerfield called to order a Public Hearing at 7:30 P.M. on May 10, 2018 at the Village Hall, 850 Waukegan Road,  Deerfield, Illinois.

Present were: Larry Berg, Chairman

Al Bromberg

Jennifer Goldstone

Elaine Jacoby

Stuart Shayman

Justin Silva

Absent were: Sean Forrest

Also present: Jeff Ryckaert, Principal Planner

Daniel Nakahara, Planner

Chairman Berg swore in all who plan to testify before the Commission.

Public Comment on a Non-Agenda Item

There were no comments from the public on a non-agenda item.

Public Hearing

(1) Public Hearing on the Request for an amendment to a Class B Special Use to permit the relocation of beer and wine sales and add a Special Use for medical and laboratory facilities in the 780 Waukegan Road store (Walgreens at 780 Waukegan Road in the Shops at Deerfield Square).

Chairman Berg asked for proof of publication from the petitioners. The petitioners provided the certified mailing receipts to the Commission. Mr. Ryckaert reported that the legal notice was published in the Deerfield Review on April19, 2018.

The petitioner, attorney Bernard Citron of Thompson Coburn LLP, reported that he represents Walgreens and the downtown Deerfield store where they are seeking to make changes. Mr. Citron stated that Walgreens staff members are in attendance to explain the proposed changes in detail as well as Eric Russell of Kloa to review parking for healthcare uses.

Mr. Citron explained that in 2010, Walgreens first petitioned the Village to sell alcohol in the store and at that point, the location in the store of where the display could be located was a condition of the Special Use. Mr. Citron stated that they are not increasing the linear feet of sales and not adding any alcohol sales, but in updating the store to support their proposed changes, they want to move where in the store alcohol sales is located. Mr. Citron stated that Walgreens is also seeking to add health services of optical, hearing, and lab services to the store. He commented the store would be an extension of healthcare services to bring added convenience for residents. Mr. Citron stated that they are seeking a non-retail use of healthcare services on the ground floor in the commercial district; however, they feel it will be a draw and bring people to the downtown district.

Amy Ciolek, Store Development Director, Walgreens, commented that the downtown Deerfield store is the store in the backyard of the corporate campus and because of community support it has grown to be one of the most important and productive stores in the chain. Ms. Ciolek stated that Walgreens seeks to be America’s drug store company. As such, they are seeking to bring new health partnerships and a higher level of health and beauty offerings.

Ms. Ciolek stated that customers can expect to see a new health destination with hearing services, lab services and optical located in what will be called the health corner. Health and beauty offerings will now be front and center in the store and a beauty consultant will be available to navigate beauty offerings and expanded skin care offerings. The store will still have merchandise and grocery, which includes beer, and wine however, the beer and wine will now be located in the back of the store.

Ms. Ciolek stated that they would offer security for the alcohol sales area through several measures. There will be a clear line of visibility to the alcohol sales area from the front checkouts as well as from the new health care navigator position and the beauty consultant position. They will also have additional security cameras above the beer and wine area and staff members will have in-ear communication devices allowing them to communicate and monitor the store more successfully.

Ms. Ciolek showed a video that walked through a three-dimensional rendering of the proposed new store layout with the relocation of beer and wine and the new health corner and health navigator station. She added that the store would also get new checkouts and still offer photo services while expanding FedEx services for convenience. She introduced the Walgreens’ health partners individually to provide an overview of the full offerings in optical, lab services and hearing services including hearing testing and hearing aid fitting.

Teresa Stancik provided an overview of Walgreens optical. She stated that Walgreens believes in the importance of a yearly eye exam for getting glasses and contacts as well as for medical purposes. Their goal is to be able to provide quality eye care as a convenience for customers. Walgreens optical will provide a doctor at the store seven days a week with top of the line equipment for testing and refractive services. Ms. Stancik stated that Walgreens is excited to serve the community and they believe this will result in people staying in the community for other shopping.

Justin Berry, Regional Director of Operations at LabCorp, reported that their partnership with Walgreens began in 2017 and they have in-store lab services in other states. Mr.Berry stated that the in-store lab is all about convenience with high quality. The lab will provide routine blood testing, occupational health testing services and biometrics for insurance purposes. It will be staffed by one person Monday through Friday 7 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Mike Eckert from Starkey Hearing Technologies reported that his company is the Walgreens hearing partner. He stated that only one out of every six hearing loss problems in the United States gets addressed and this new plan with Walgreens will help expand hearing services to provide testing, fitting and counseling for people that have hearing loss. Their goal is help more people hear by providing convenient hearing services. Commissioner Jacoby confirmed that they would provide hearing testing as well as hearing aid fitting and sales.

Eric Russell of KLOA discussed the parking needs. He stated that they assessed the parking demand for the current tenants in the building with the additional projected parking needs based on information from the Walgreens health partners on staffing and patient loads for the three providers. Mr. Russell reported that they used parking surveys completed at end of 2016 for the shopping center as a whole. From a parking demand perspective, the new medical uses will require twice as much parking as a retail use. The three providers require about 15 parking spaces for staff and patients,while a retail use would require 7 parking spaces.

Mr. Russell reported that peak parking times in 2016 were mid-day weekdays when 75% of the parking would be filled in the shopping center. Projections in parking demand for the center with the new restaurants and retail would leave about 30 spaces available during weekday peak times, and over 165 spaces on weekends. Mr. Russell stated that the additional seven spaces required for the medical uses in Walgreens could be accommodated with this.

Commissioner Bromberg commented that peak time parking would be 96% full and that in winter months some spaces may be lost to snow storage in the main parking lot, leaving parking very tight. Mr. Russell replied that typically one to two percent of spaces are lost for snow removal storage. He added that in 2016, they looked at where the parking vacancies were located, and 40 to 45% were at the end of the parking lot near Walgreens. Although many of these spaces will be used by the new restaurants, they believe there will be extra spaces for the new Walgreens uses.

Chairman Berg asked the petitioners if Walgreens employee parking will be restricted or recommended to be in certain areas. Mr. Citron replied that the Plan Commission could make this a condition of the Special Use if they wish and that Walgreens encourages employees to park further away to leave close parking spaces available for customers. Mr. Ryckaert explained that the center’s ownership has designated parking areas for employee parking.

Mr. Nakahara confirmed that the center’s underground parking was not taken into account in the parking study. Mr. Russell stated that the underground parking is intended for the office space and not the retail and restaurant space.

Mr. Citron stated that alcohol sales is offered as a convenience and that from a security standpoint there have been no issues with theft or underage attempts and the new layout proposal provides a strong argument that it is actually more secure. Mr. Citron stated that the new Walgreens health services would provide convenience near people’s homes in a setting they are used to going to. The petitioner believes that bringing these services into the community will be beneficial. Mr. Citron stated that regarding the Special Use standards the store is not changing, just shifting the merchandise within the store to emphasize wellness. He stated that it is compatible with the existing development, as the store already exists. He added that they believe the lot is a sufficient size and that the conclusions of the traffic and parking study are acceptable. They also believe it will have a positive effect on the neighborhood with no negative external affects. The petitioner believes it will benefit the C-1 District and bring more people into the area. Mr. Citron added that the Walgreens store would also no longer sell cigarettes, as it does not fit with their model of health.

Commissioner Goldstone asked how the projection of an additional parking was calculated. Mr. Citron replied that the three health partners provided this information based on experience. Mr. Russell added that the optical is the busiest of the three with one optometrist and two assistants, and three to four patients at a time for a total of up to seven. The lab will have one on staff with one or two patients at a time, and the hearing clinic will have one hearing professional and one patient care coordinator and would see one to two patients at a time by appointment.

Chairman Berg asked the petitioners if the three services would also take walk-in customers as well. Mr. Berry replied that while they encourage people to schedule appointments online or with smart phones, they will also take walk-ins but people with appointments will have priority. Mr. Citron added that the other two services will take walk-ins as well, but they expect most people to make appointments.

Commissioner Shayman asked the petitioners what the health corner will look like when the services are not open but the rest of the store is. Ms. Ciolek replied that the hearing and lab will have a door that closes and the optical area will have a gate closing it off.

Chairman Berg commented that he was on the Plan Commission when the Special Use to allow liquor sales was granted and at that time they asked that the alcohol sales area be monitored by a full-time employee and this was a factor in the approval. Mr. Citron stated that there would be at least three people with sight lines to the alcohol sales area, the front cashier, the part-time health corner staff member, and the beauty consultant circulating, as well as the security cameras. Chairman Berg asked what the current hours of alcohol sales are. Mr. Citron replied that they abide by the hours per the Village liquor code.

Chairman Berg invited public comment. There were no comments from the public on this matter.

Mr. Citron stated that he hopes the Plan Commission will see that Walgreens is investing in the community and shifting their focus by eliminating cigarette sales and adding health services.

Chairman Berg asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.

Chairman Berg stated that the Plan Commission would now meet in an open workshop setting to consider their recommendation on this matter. He stated that a written recommendation would be made to the Village Board who will make the final binding decision on this matter. Commissioner Bromberg moved, seconded by Commissioner Goldstone to close the Public Hearing. Said motion passed with the following vote:

Ayes: Bromberg, Goldstone, Jacoby, Shayman, Silva, Berg (6)

Nays: None (0)

There being no further discussion, the Public Hearing adjourned at 8:14 P.M.

http://www.deerfield.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05102018-429