Zoning Board Recommends Starbucks Amid Traffic Concerns

The Palatine Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of a Starbucks on Northwest Highway despite concerns about traffic and the potential impact on a nearby business.

The zoning board's vote is a nonbinding recommendation. The village council will have final approval. The zoning board did say a traffic study should be considered before the project moves forward.

Nick Bharwani has proposed building a 7,700 square foot stripmall between and in the 200 block of West Northwest Highway. The development would include a Starbucks and Charley's Grilled Subs. Bharwani would also own the Charley's restaurant. A third potential business is yet to be determined.

The zoning board review was triggered because the project involves a restaurant — which is considered a special use — and a proposed drive-thru for the Starbucks.

Several residents voiced concerns about traffic in the area and said they believed the development would compound existing traffic issues.

"To assume that you are going to have people coming off of Northwest Highway today that are going to make it into McDonald's without getting into accidents is completely ridiculous," Palatine resident Mark Bisaillon said. "To assume that that's going to remain the same when you stick another high-volume drive-thru in there is completely naive."

Bisaillon also said the cut through off of Smith Street between Harris Bank and already is "a complete disaster area."

He said without a turn lane "you're going to have more traffic than you can possibly imagine. You're going to have more accidents on Northwest Highway and Smith. Just because of the nature of how people are trying to jam into a Starbucks before their [Metra] train comes."

Bisaillon was one of several residents who expressed concerns about traffic, including the lack of a left turn lane off of Northwest Highway.

Other residents pointed out that there are a number of empty storefronts in Palatine and wondered whether a better location would be at Quentin Road and Northwest Highway. Others pointed out that was close by at 189 W. Northwest Highway, and the development could have a negative impact on the existing local business.

"It is not our purview to listen to matters of impact on businesses as far as competition," Zoning Board of Appeals member Jan Wood said. "As far as business-to-business competiton, that is not a matter we are concerned about through the zoning board. That may be something you want to discuss with the village council."

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 .