Village approves plans for new Milwaukee Avenue gas station

The Village Board Monday night approved resolutions that clear the way for the development of a new gas station and mini-mart on Milwaukee Avenue.

Plans for the station, which will be a 12-pump Shell gas station, include a 3,500 square foot mini-mart at 185  N. Milwaukee Avenue.  True North Energy, which is developing the project, has also entered into an agreement to purchase the Wooil Restaurant, which is currently on the site.

True North plans to offer beer and wine sales at the mini-mart. Development of the 0.9-acre site is scheduled to begin in Spring 2019.

Aptakisic Road closed until Sept. 28

The CN/Wisconsin Central Railroad has confirmed that they will be closing Aptakisic Road at the railroad tracks between Weiland Road and Bond Street until Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Repairs will be made to the railroad crossing and will also include a future sidewalk crossing on the south side of Aptakisic Road - to be completed with the Weiland Road Project.

Fire Department Open House Saturday

The 23rd annual Buffalo Grove Fire Department Open House will be held this coming Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fire Department Headquarters, 1051 Highland Grove Drive in Buffalo Grove. This family-friendly event will include a vehicle extrication demonstration, side-by-side sprinkler burn unit, hands-on fire extinguisher training, equipment displays, a puppet show, and an appearance by the Flight for Life helicopter, along with a junior firefighter challenge including a fire pole! Free hot dogs and chips will be served. For more information, contact the Fire Department Public Education Division at (847) 777-6110 or at this link Fire Department open house.

Want to run for village office?

There are five open seats on the Buffalo Grove Village Board for the April 2, 2019 Consolidated Election, including Village President, Village Clerk and three Village Trustee seats. Trustees whose terms are ending including Jeff Berman, David Weidenfeld and Eric Smith.  Smith was appointed to replace Steve Trilling who was re-elected in 2015 but resigned when he moved out of the village.

Candidates can pick up petitions at the Buffalo Grove Village Hall, 50 Raupp Boulevard in Buffalo Grove, during regular business hours; Monday from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., and Tuesday - Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Petition filing begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 10 in the Village Clerk's Office, 50 Raupp Boulevard in Buffalo Grove, and ends on December 17 at 6:30 p.m.  Details can be found here Village election information.

Questions regarding the Municipal Election should be directed to the State Board of Elections State Board of Elections. A Candidate's Guide may be obtained by calling the State Board of Elections at 312-814-6440 or can also be found online here, or specific to the County of residence. Lake County residents can click Lake County election information and Cook County residents can go to this site Cook County election information for additional information.

Or you can run for Buffalo Grove Park District Board

 Three current Buffalo Grove Park District Commissioner positions for 4-Year Terms, and one unexpired two-year term are open for election in the April 2, 2019 Consolidated Election.  Individuals interested in running for a position as a Buffalo Grove Park District Commissioner in this election can pick up petitions.  The circulation period for petitions is Sept. 18 to December 17.

 Petitions can be picked up at the Alcott Center, located at 530 Bernard Drive in Buffalo Grove.  The Alcott Center is open Monday from 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Residents interested in running for a Buffalo Grove Park District Commissioner seat must be a registered voter and have been a resident of the Buffalo Grove Park District for at least one year prior to the election.

For additional information, contact Ryan Risinger, executive director of the Buffalo Grove Park District at (847) 850-2122.

Woodman's a welcome addition; but it may not seem that way

I was once told by an executive in the restaurant business that it’s best to wait six months before passing judgement on a new restaurant.

            That timeframe, he said, gives the restaurant time to adjust to its clientele, operations, menus, etc. This was before the social media arrived on the scene. And while I’m sure the six-month timeframe may still be warranted, there’s nothing to control the wags who indiscriminately and thoughtlessly post on social media.

Woodman's is well lit and well

signed as shown in its produce

section

            A case in point is the opening of Woodman’s – probably the biggest retail opening in Buffalo Grove’s recent – if not its entire 60-year history.

            But if you read some of the posts on social media, specifically the “Everything Buffalo Grove” Facebook page, you’d think Woodman’s was as welcomed in Buffalo Grove as an Arab in a Kibbutz.

            And it has only been opened less than a week. Granted, the positive reviews seem to outweigh those wags who are beside themselves because the Sushi station at Woodman’s isn’t open, or they can’t use their Visa card to get points to use so they can buy an air ticket so they can fly to Des Moines -- or this major crisis -- they couldn't get cell service in the store.

            The bottom line is this; Woodman’s is, at least from my initial visit, a heck of an operation and has proved itself to be not only a welcome addition to the Buffalo Grove business landscape, but a great corporate citizen.

            In addition to jumping on to sponsorship bandwagon for Buffalo Grove Days, Woodman’s also paid for roadway improvements along Milwaukee Avenue and Deerfield Parkway to make things easier for its customers and those drivers who use both roadways.

            But we don’t read about good neighbors. Instead many folks overlook the strong impact Woodman’s may have on the village opting instead to rip village officials for not doing more to attract new retail outlets.

Wide aisles are a highlight at
Woodman's

            As noted, based on my initial visit, Woodman’s is impressive.  It’s large. Very large. The store’s total square footage is 254,000 square feet of which, store officials told me, 135,000 is for retail space. The remaining space is for warehousing, which one employee told me is massive.

            It is anyone’s guess which area store will feel the greatest impact. Beyond an impressive assortment of grocery items, Woodman’s carries what appears to be a wide variety of home-care products, hardware items and greeting cards.

           

In addition to a wide variety of grocery items, Woodman's
carries household and health and beauty items.

Unlike some smaller stores, Woodman’s does not make bakery goods on site and meat is not cut in the store, but at a supplier that delivers meat three times a week. Its liquor department is bigger (so it seems) than some liquor stores and is anchored by a wide variety of beer.

            Check-out lines, at least at this early stage, are well managed and offer both self-checkout and employee assisted checkout.

            If you’re gas-price conscious, on Friday Woodman’s was offering lead-free for $2.74 a gallon, between five and 15 cents less than major-brand stations in the area.

            And then there’s the ‘issue’ of payment. If you’ve read social media you would think that the fact that Woodman’s accepts only Discover cards, debit cards, checks and cash is the end of the world and, as the late George Carlin might say, would infect your mind, curve your spine and help the allies lose the war. It’s easy enough to overcome this ‘obstacle’ -- plan ahead. If none of these options work, Woodman’s offers a fee-free automatic teller machine.

            Give Woodman’s a chance; and welcome them to the village.

            As for Sushi. Relax, it’s coming. Maybe they'll call when it's available. 

            They'll just use a land line.

Buffalo Grove's future development goes beyond retail

While the recent approval of the Links Crossing development by the Village Board raises questions by residents who live in proximity to the development, the reality is that developments like Links Crossing may be a major part of future development in the village.

The Village Board raised more than a few eyebrows with its unanimous vote giving the go ahead to the Links Crossing plan despite a Dec. 6 recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) to deny.

The vote by the Village Board may have countered the PZC, but the action did not counter plans for development in the village. These plans were detailed during the Board’s Jan. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting.

At that meeting, the Board heard an update on the development of the Lake-Cook corridor. While there seems to be a common belief that the key for an enhanced Lake-Cook corridor is a new Town Center, Domenic Salpietra, Vice President and Regional Leader of Planning for HOK, which is developing ideas for the corridor, noted that the work his firm is doing is not a “specific development project” but one which is looking at the entire village. Salpietra called it “more of a vision.”

The vision, he said, is broken down in three stages, but only to identify various aspects and not establish a chronological order. For example, step No. 3 of the plan focuses on residential development. Salpietra noted that a key to this aspect will be multi-unit housing including condos and townhomes. He told me after the meeting the target will be millennials. Salpietra said millennials who now call urban areas home, may, within 10 years, find a better life balance in the suburbs. He said what may make the trend reversal attractive is the development of retail, residential and office space.

While that plan addressed the Lake-Cook Road Corridor it was clear that as the village moves forward with development plans, the nature of Buffalo Grove will change, something that many residents can’t seem to fathom. Comments by residents at public hearings and Village Board meetings often focus on how long they have lived in the village and the fact that because the village was a certain way when they moved in, it can’t change.

As Robin Williams once said in the old Mork and Mindy show, “Reality, what a concept.”

Change can be difficult to accept.  However, it’s inherent to just about all aspects of our lives.

Thirty years ago, we flocked to malls; now we flock to our computers.

Forty years ago we sat in our cars while an attendant filled our tanks and cleaned our windshield; now we pump and go.

As the late Jim Croce sang in the song Recently that “The future is tomorrow 'Cause the past is gone.”

Welcome to the future.

While aging Baby Boomers feel snug in their single-family detached homes, they may be looking for something smaller as the near retirement.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the millennials. While they currently flock to urban areas and have a care-free lifestyle, planners say it may not be long before they call suburbs home.

This is why presentations to the Village Board by planners – not developers – are addressing the need for ways to prepare for potential trends. It appears large single-family homes with large yards, etc. may not be the focus of long-range plans for suburbs.

A generational thing? Possibly. It appears that the comments of many residents who spoke at the Jan. 22 Board meeting may have been a case of, to quite Yogi Berra, déjà vu all over again. Generations before us may have said the same things – whether about housing, transportation, or even telecommunications. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, previous generation didn’t have social media where they could throw unfounded and pointless barbs at decision makers. Change is inevitable and, as was the case for neighbors near Links Crossing, not welcomed.

Expecting corporations, government agencies, civic servants and legislators to stay in a time warp and not look toward the future is unreasonable.

The Links Crossings plan is not perfect. No plan is. However, it’s possible – if not probable – that future plans will be similar. Municipalities, like corporations, need to look at the trends. It appears that the nation’s retailers have not. All it takes is a glance at vacancies at large malls, downtowns or, as Buffalo Grove residents are quick to point out, strip malls. What once was a panacea is now a struggle. Major retailers who apparently thought bigger was better are finding the opposite to be true. Businesses who scoffed at the idea of online shopping are scrambling to join the parade.

Residents, as difficult as it may be for some, need to look beyond the comfort zone that is their little corner of the world.

Croce was right; the future is tomorrow because the past is gone.

Economic development focus of tonight's open house

While Facebook posts about the Wild Buffalo, the new restaurant at the Buffalo Grove Golf Course seem to dominate, if not captivate, many people, it’s not the most significant event in the village.

While it is a welcome addition to the village’s restaurant scene, Buffalo Grove officials continue to examine future retail development.

Which is why tonight’s open house on the Lake Cook Corridor Market Study and Plan is an important event. It will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Arts Center, 255 McHenry Road.

It’s the second opportunity for residents to learn about plans for development of the Lake Corridor.  The first, held in February, was a SRO event during which residents had the chance to hear from village staff about economic development in Buffalo Grove.

What’s different about tonight’s meeting is that there will not be formal presentations.  Instead, residents will have the opportunity to ask village staff about the current status of economic development plans and what lies ahead.

Make a note – you probably won’t learn about what’s going into the old Dominick’s at Arlington Heights and Lake-Cook roads, nor will you get a definitive answer about the future of the concrete open space known as Town Center.  That’s because the village does not control those sites, nor is it in the leasing business.

Like so many other people, village officials can only hope there will be some movement on both fronts.

Tonight’s soiree focuses on future development. Lake-Cook Road takes front and center because in many ways it is the heart of the village. That does not diminish the importance of other areas, including the Dundee Road corridor or Milwaukee Avenue. Both are on the village’s radar for economic development. Information on the Lake Cook Corridor Market Study and other economic development information can be found at Lake Cook Corridor Market Study.

It’s also important to realize that economic development extends beyond retail. Buffalo Grove has one of the highest rates of industrial and office usage in Lake County. In fact, an estimated 20,000 people work in Buffalo Grove. A goal, say village economic development staff members, is to capture some of those 20,000 so they shop and eat in the village.

Needless to say, it’s an ongoing challenge, and one which will not be developed and/or resolved overnight.

Which is why input from residents at events like tonight is so important.

Looking for a job? Report says Buffalo Grove ranks high

Statistics, it has been said, can be squirrely things. 

                Seriously.  If junior comes home from school with a test where he got 50 out of 100, parents panic.  If a professional baseball player gets 50 hits in 100 at bats, he’s an all-star. 

                OK, that’s extreme. But when the village sent out the following press release, I thought I’d check it out a bit more.

                The release touts Buffalo Grove for being a great place for jobs. 

                According to the press release: “The Village of Buffalo Grove has been named the 17th best city for jobs in Illinois by personal finance outlet, WalletHub.com.

                The study compared 162 cities in the state in an effort to assist Illinois job seekers locate employment. There were 16 metrics measured to complete the study relating to job-market health. They include unemployment rates, employment growth and median monthly starting salaries.

                “We are extremely pleased to see our ongoing efforts to support business and subsequent employment opportunities contribute to positive growth throughout the Village,” Village Manager Dane Bragg said.

                Buffalo Grove’s ratings are below. Rating values range from 1 being the Best, to 81 as an average rating:

·         Job Opportunities 27th

·         Employment Growth 18th

·         Health Benefits 11th

·         Unemployment Rate for High School Graduates 18th

·         Safety 5th

·         Housing Affordability 5th

·         Full-Time Employment 5th

·         Percentage of Persons with Disabilities in the Workforce 19th

                The full study conducted by WalletHub can be found here: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-illinois-cities-for-jobs/23236/.”

                At face value, the village ranks high.  However, the website for the study is more comprehensive than can be explained in a blog post.  Some of the subgroups of the study are pretty interesting. 

                For example, the highest employment growth, the study notes, is in – North Chicago.  And there’s a tie for Highest Monthly Median Starting Salary between – Zion and North Chicago.

                I did not see a category for “Best Opportunities for Sushi Chefs” – but my guess is Buffalo Grove would be near the top.

Wanna buy parking?  Go online.

                The village wants residents who park at the Metra Commuter lot to know they can now purchase the bi-monthly parking passes online. Parking passes for the September-October pass cycle can be purchased, here.

                You can also pay the daily rate Passport Parking on their mobile app, which can be found on this website, or by calling 847-380-4332. The Buffalo Grove Metra Station is Zone 336. Payment onsite is also available at any of the four electronic payment boxes at the station.

Sober up…or else

                Another holiday, another enforcement.  This time, the village says, the Buffalo Grove Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation to stop drunken drivers and help save lives. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 5.

                The village release says “law enforcement agencies across Illinois will show zero tolerance for impaired driving and seat belt law violators. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of drunk and drugged driving, roadside safety checks and increased officers on the road, aim to reduce impaired driving in Buffalo Grove, and throughout Illinois.”

                There’s no word if they’ll be watching for ATMs that charge fees.

Buffalo Grove Days needs volunteers

                Not only can the Buffalo Grove Days Committee plan an event, it can provide high school students with the opportunity to volunteer during the event to complete required high school volunteer credits. If you know of a high school student who would be interested, contact Paulette Greenberg at 847-541-8482

                By the way, Buffalo Grove Days will be at its new location, Mike Rylko Park, from Wednesday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 5. For more information, click here.  The new home is not just for this year, it’s the new site for B.G. Days.  Period.

Cops take second

                It’s not clear how winners are selected, but apparently this is a big thing. 

                Quote the village PR flack:  The Buffalo Grove Police Department took 2nd place in the championship class for the 2015-2016 Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge (51-65 officer category).  The Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge is a competition that is held between similar size and type of law enforcement agencies to encourage ongoing developments to address highway safety issues in their jurisdiction, including occupant safety, speeding and impaired drivers.