Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission votes down tire business near Three Oaks

A proposed national chain tire store is not what the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission wants to see on the property that abuts Three Oaks Recreation Area.

At a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting this past week, officials voted, 7-0, denying a request by Discount Tire to build on a portion of the vacant property along Route 14 once occupied by Pauly Toyota.

The property, which has been subdivided, backs up to the Three Oaks Recreation Area, where city officials envision a boardwalk, restaurants, high-quality retail shops and entertainment venues. They want businesses that would enhance and “take advantage of the views” of the lake and attract visitors, City Planner Elizabeth Maxwell said.

“The Planning and Zoning Commission did not believe the Discount Tire was providing a creative and imaginative design to qualify for the variations,” she said. “Without the variations for setbacks and parking, a major site redesign would be needed. They did not believe the proposal met the findings of fact.”

The proposal will move on to the City Council on July 16. However, because the plan was denied by the commission, it now needs a supermajority vote to pass.

The 1-acre lot eyed by Discount Tire is part of a 3.2-acre site being subdivided and sold off. Raising Canes, a fast-food restaurant chain specializing in chicken fingers founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, submitted a site and engineering document for a planned unit development hearing. It could be discussed at an upcoming Planning and Zoning Commission hearing.

Pauly Toyota now is located at 1035 S. Route 31.

Developers for the site could not be reached for comment.