Dole Mansion wins updated permit for farmers market, other events over some pushback in Crystal Lake

The Crystal Lake City Council approved a measure late Tuesday that allows the Dole Mansion to host community and arts events, including its seasonal farmers market, despite some neighborhood resistance.

The Dole went before the City Council seeking an amendment to its special-use permit that would carve out a new “community and art center” use for the property. Some neighbors raised concerns that it would result in even more events at the Dole amid assertions that it’s already exceeding its allowed uses.

The special use sought by the nonprofit Lakeside Legacy Foundation, which operates the Dole property and its events, would allow indoor live music and outdoor events with limits on decibels and times. The nonprofit relies on events to fund the restoration of the 159-year-old building, Lakeside Legacy Foundation Board President Jay LeCoque has said.

Last week, planning and zoning commissioners backed the Dole measures, in a 6-0 vote, with multiple conditions that aim to mitigate traffic in the quiet, single-family residential area. The City Council approved the matter in a 5-1 vote Tuesday.

More than a dozen conditions are in the approval, including that Dole operators must meet with city staff three times to analyze ongoing traffic mitigation efforts and add more parking attendants and bicycle parking.

The main concern of some neighboring residents is the traffic that the farmers market brings. Country Club Road between Lake Avenue and Ringling Road sees an average of 450 cars per hour during the markets, Public Works Director Michael Magnuson said. That’s a 300% increase compared with nonmarket days.

“We love the Dole. What [LeCoque] has done is wonderful,” resident Will Ander said. “We have one problem: too much traffic and too many cars parked in our face every Sunday.”

Resident Jody Landry said her biggest concern is that traffic mixed with the alcohol sold at the market makes it unsafe for children and families. Landry described to the council how she explains to her child why she isn’t allowed to ride her bike near The Dole on Sundays.

“The farmers market isn’t like any other farmers market. It’s more like a festival,” she said. “They serve alcohol at this festival and, unfortunately, some of those people may be driving out of our neighborhood, so we need to stay safe.”

At previous city meetings, some neighbors have cited an incident in which a woman drove onto the sidewalk during the farmers market, striking and injuring a 9-year-old child. The driver later pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence.

Since last year’s farmers market, the foundation has taken “multiple actions” to address residents’ concerns, LeCoque said. The Dole reduced the number of vendors, implemented a traffic plan and created a green grass zone along the perimeter of the parking area. The foundation also started to charge $5 to park at the Dole during the markets while providing free off-site parking at nearby South Elementary and Lundahl schools. The $5 fee has reduced the number of people parking at the Dole, which has not hit capacity since the implementation, LeCoque said.

City Council member Ian Philpot, who voted against the request, said he struggled to approve it because of traffic concerns, and “their current use does not comply with the current special-use permit.”

An attorney representing the Lakeside Legacy Foundation, Lisa Waggoner, said the foundation is not out of compliance and that the ambiguity in the current language is why the foundation asked for a more specific permit.

Council member Brett Hopkins said he also would like neighbors to be involved in the annual meetings with city staff to analyze traffic mitigation efforts.

“There’s always a balance,” he said. “This is not a one-time deal. This is going to have to be something that’s going to be a work in progress.”