Starbucks Still Considering Northwest HIghway Location, Drive-Thru

New plans for a Starbucks with a drive-thru at Northwest Highway and Smith Street have been sent to Palatine village officials for comment.

Earlier this month the . The plan garnered criticism from residents concerned about traffic and also from supporters of nearby , 189 W. Northwest Highway.

Several residents and council members specifically voiced concern about traffic flow and how the project would work in conjunction with , 275 W. Northwest Highway.

"They [petitioners] tried to address the concerns that were raised by a majority of council members," Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. "The news here is that they have not stopped looking at the site. They did not just walk away after the vote."

Ottesen said the new plans move the drive-thru further east in an attempt to avoid any conflicts with McDonald's. The plans have not been officially submitted, but rather feedback on the proposal is being sought from village staff members.

Ottesen said once staff makes its comments "the ball will be in their court."

The Starbucks would be located in a new 7,700 square foot stripmall to be built between , 205 W. Northwest Highway, and McDonald's. The building would likely have three tenants. One tenant would be Charley Grilled Subs and would be owned by the property's owner, Nick Bharwani.

The third tenant has yet to be determined.

Starbucks could locate in the stripmall without a drive-thru, but Starbucks Director of Global Development, Dean Klein, has said "The absence of a drive-thru makes this project less desirable. It would definitely detract from the appeal of this location."

The Northwest Highway Starbucks would be the fourth in Palatine. There already is a located in the Metra Station near Smith and Wood streets. There also is a at 1590 N. Rand Rd. as well as a Starbucks at 679 E. Dundee Rd. inside .