Huntley Crossings gets OK for child care center

Huntley village trustees this week voted unanimously to approve changes to the first phase of Huntley Crossings east of Route 47 to allow a 10,400-square-foot child care center called Lighthouse Academy.

Huntley Crossings is a 110-acre development, located south of Powers Road on the east side of Route 47. It is being developed in phases for a variety of uses – including retail, restaurant, a bank – as well as a Hampton Inn, which is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in June.

Speaking at the Thursday Village Board meeting, Director of Development Services Charles Nordman said the proposal is nearly identical to a concept review presented to trustees in July.

“The re-subdivision and proposed special use for the child care center does represent a change from the big box … retail commercial development that was originally proposed as part of the preliminary PUD [planned unit development], which was approved by the village back in November of 2006,” Nordman said.

Lighthouse Academy would occupy just more than 2 acres on the southeast corner of Powers Road and the access drive directly east of the Culver’s and Sherwin-Williams, Nordman said, with just more than 20 acres remaining in that parcel.

Village Manager David Johnson said the owner of the hotel bought the 20 acres but has not proposed anything to be built there yet.

The Plan Commission recommended approval of the proposal with conditions that include having final engineering revisions be approved and meeting all development requirements of the Huntley Fire Protection District.

Nordman said the fire district already reviewed the application and accepted the plan as proposed.

Lighthouse Academy would provide a variety of services for children from six weeks old to 12 years old, both before and after school care, kindergarten and summer camp, Nordman said.

The child care center would offer 70 parking spaces, exceeding the 42 required by village ordinance, and the lot would be illuminated by prairie-style fixtures.

The children’s play area would be enclosed by an aluminum fence and landscaping would shield the trash enclosure.

One major change is the addition of sidewalks to the southern parking area, connecting to an existing sidewalk along Powers Road, Nordman said.

Trustee Mary Holzkopf said she was “so happy you’re coming to our town. … I’m praying for your success, and I’m so happy you’re in Huntley.”

“When you think about community, it’s our local committee but also you’re servicing Pingree [Grove], you’re servicing Hampshire,” Holzkopf said.

“You’re close enough to [Interstate] 90, you’re going to get that traffic coming down,” Holzkopf said. “And then we have wonderful establishments like Culver’s is there, Taco Loco is there, Walmart – where they can stop and get their groceries after picking up their children and heading back home. I just think you’re going to be a wonderful asset, and I love the location you chose.”

Trustee Ronda Goldman said the building looked beautiful in the photo.

“I hope that is what it looks like in reality,” Goldman said.