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Lakemoor starts work to ready Woodman's site

After more than two years of planning, review and local approvals, tangible work for a proposed Woodman's Food Market in Lakemoor is underway.

Utilities are marked and pipes to carry stormwater and extend sewer and water service have been delivered to the 74-acre site at the southwest corner of routes 12 and 120.

"It's the first step in providing all the utilities to that corner for development," said Lakemoor Mayor Todd Weihofen.

Installation of about 2,000 feet of 24-inch diameter storm sewer pipes from near Route 120 and Gilmer Road is scheduled to begin this week.

That will be followed later this fall by the extension of water and sanitary sewer lines. Pending approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation, the intersection and approach roads will be widened next year.

The result will be a site ready not only for Woodman's but other potential users. Village officials held a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend for the storm sewer project.

"It's an integral and vital component of the project or any development that will occur at 12 and 120." said Matt Dabrowski, the village's director of community and economic development.

The village in February 2016 announced Woodman's had reached an agreement to buy the open property for a 240,000-square-foot grocery store. A gas station, car wash and lube facility are part of the plan. Woodman's has said it intends to open in summer 2019.

A commercial development at the busy corner had been proposed in the past but didn't materialize. Village officials determined it never would without incentives.

To that end, the village in February 2015 approved ordinances designating the area, as well as one north of Route 120, as tax increment financing districts, a tool used by communities to attract development.

In a TIF, increased tax revenue generated by development of a property goes to a special fund for development-related expenses rather than various taxing districts.

Lakemoor intends to provide Woodman's up to $6 million in incentives through sales tax and TIF funds.

Wauconda Unit District 118, Wauconda Township and Wauconda Area library challenged the TIF designation. That lawsuit continues in Lake County circuit court, with parties taking depositions and acquiring documents, according to Dean Krone, an attorney representing the plaintiffs.

Meanwhile preparations for development continue.

"The goal is to have all the public utilities to the site in spring, then they (Woodman's) would begin on-site work," Dabrowski said.

The Lakemoor Woodman's would follow a Buffalo Grove store under construction at Milwaukee Avenue and Deerfield Parkway. That will be the chain's 17th location. Most are in Wisconsin, but there also are stores Carpentersville and North Aurora.

  Storm sewer pipes are ready to be extended to the site of a planned Woodman's Food Market at routes 12 and 120 in Lakemoor. Mick Zawislak/mzawislak@dailyherald.com
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