Trustees reject special-use for Wheeling Tobacco at Lake Cook Road after traffic, childcare concerns
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Summary
The board denied a special-use request for a retail tobacco shop at 1053 Lake Cook Road after planners raised traffic concerns and trustees questioned proximity to a KinderCare; the planning commission had recommended denial (3–4).
The Wheeling Village Board voted Nov. 3 against a special-use permit for Wheeling Tobacco LLC to operate a retail tobacco store at 1053 Lake Cook Road. The plan commission had returned the petition with a negative recommendation (3 in favor, 4 opposed).
Planning staff read 12 recommended conditions if the board chose to approve, including age restrictions, prohibitions on on-site consumption and limits on advertising and visibility of tobacco/CBD products. Commissioners and trustees focused discussion on projected customer volumes (the petitioner had estimated 150–200 daily customers), traffic congestion in a shopping center already serving a childcare center and questions about the petitioner’s absence from the hearing.
During roll call the motion to approve failed: Trustee Vito and Trustee Lang voted yes; Trustees Krueger, Raffato, Vogel, Papantos and President Horcher voted no. Trustee Papantos noted the petitioner was not present and said that absence raised concerns about projected traffic and demand. The failed motion means the special-use request was not approved.