Oberweis, burger combo gains panel approval

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A rendering of the new Oberweis and Dairy Store recently recommended by the Skokie Plan Commission. | Graphic courtesy Village of Skokie

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:23AM

Oberweis Dairy Inc. is one step closer to opening a combination drive-through dairy store and hamburger joint in a key West Dempster Street location under a special use permit recommended last week by the Skokie Plan Commission.

While the Plan Commission unanimously supported the special use permit, the owners of a nearby residential building raised concerns about notification for the hearing as well as the impact the new business would have on safety.

“We’re objecting to the notice as being inadequate,” said Ruth Wenger, one of the owners of a land trust that oversees an apartment building at 4800 Carol St.

The case was already continued from last month because it was determined that proper notice to all business owners in the area was not adequate. But this time, the Plan Commission ruled that the village met its legal obligation in notifying nearby property owners including an owner of the Carol Street building.

The property at 4811 Dempster St. is considered especially important to the village because it’s an entry point into Skokie traveling east from the highway. The village has made great effort to revitalize the West Dempster Street area including buying up properties for future redevelopment.

That’s what happened in this case. Two businesses used to occupy the property, but the village wanted them marketed together because of their small sizes. That resulted in the village’s longest eminent domain case in its history with the owners of one of the properties occupied by a Value Transmission auto shop.

Although Oberweis has dozens of stores throughout the Illinois area, the Skokie project would be the first one to introduce a new eatery in the same building called That Burger Joint. The drive-through feature, however, would be restricted only for the Oberweis dairy products, the applicants said.

Although some commissioners raised concerns about the drive-through use being expanded in the future, the applicants said the physical layout of the site would not allow for it. Operations for That Burger Joint and Oberweis Dairy are on opposite sides of the 3,800 square foot building, they said.

“We’re planning to bring a new Oberweis store and a brand new concept to (Skokie) and the first one in Chicago,” said Oberweis architect Michael Aragona, referring to That Burger Joint.

The Oberweis plan calls for closing a couple of existing entry/exit points — one on Skokie Boulevard and one on Niles Center Road, Aragona said. “It’s something we don’t need and we can limit the access to the site.”

The alley will be widened from 16 feet to 20 feet, as required under village code, to accommodate the drive-through facility. Customers would be able to leave the drive-through by way of the alley, which would have two-way traffic.

The eatery meets village code with 38 parking spaces and stacking space in the drive-through for at least seven vehicles. The restaurant would have 68 indoor seats as well as outdoor dining.

A family-run business now in its fourth generation of ownership, Oberweis is marking its 60th year since its first store opened in Aurora.

“We’ve placed a very high emphasis on product quality, cleanliness and people, and that’s been critical to our success over the last 60 years,” said Dave Hassler, Oberweis vice president of retail stores. “We’re going to continue that legacy as we launch our first dual concept location in Skokie.”

Although about one-third of the Oberweis restaurants have a drive-through feature, this one would be the first in the area. The Oberweis stores in nearby Lincolnwood and Park Ridge, for example, do not.

“The Planning Division is highly supportive of the proposed development and the requested drive-through facility,” stated the planning department in its report to the commission. “The proposed restaurants will create a focal point for the village’s redevelopment efforts in the area, and the Oberweis store and That Burger Joint restaurant are highly desirable uses at the site.”

The land trust owners of the Carol Street building said they are not critical of Oberweis coming in, but questioned some plan components.

“The owners are very pleased that a quality owner would be coming in and developing the property,” Wenger said.

But Wenger complained that there will be no screening at the back of the building, which is next to the apartment building.

“There will be no fencing. There will be no landscaping,” she said. “There’s a parking lot that would be coming to the back of our tenants who have quiet enjoyment of the property.”

Wenger also said that the configuration of the alley poses safety concerns — especially with 21 children living in the apartment building. The building has 42 units and 140 tenants.

“We appreciate the village is adding 4 feet (to the alley) but we’re still very concerned that our tenants and janitorial staff and workers have to back out into what becomes a two-way street,” she said.

The volume of traffic, she said, has “us all worried about the health, safety and quiet enjoyment of our tenants.”

The land trust owners asked that a full traffic study be conducted and that the commission’s vote be deferred.

“This is not a complete traffic study, and I think it would behoove the board to get one,” said land trust owner Dale Scheck. “I think we should have the opportunity to look at it and comment on it.”

Scheck called the Dempster-Niles Center Road intersection “the busiest corner except maybe for Old Orchard” in Skokie, trying to make a case for a more comprehensive traffic study.

But Community Development Director Peter Peyer said that a full traffic study is not necessary in cases such as this one.

The drive-through, he said, will not significantly change traffic on Dempster and Niles Center Road.

The Village Board has final say on the project at an upcoming meeting at which time the land trust owners can raise any concerns and make any comments they choose, they were told.