Dimucci shopping center saga continues

The continuing saga of the Dimucci family land near Hawthorn Woods will gain another chapter this week as public talks on the matter continue.

The Lake County zoning board of appeals will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday to hear more testimony and comments about the family's request for the land — 109 acres at Rand and Old McHenry roads near Hawthorn Woods — to be rezoned so a shopping center could be built there.

The request has been backed by county staffers and the mayors of Hawthorn Woods and North Barrington but opposed by some area residents and activists.

The meeting will take place at Concorde Banquets, 20922 N. Rand Road, Kildeer. An additional meeting is set for 5 p.m. Thursday at the same location because the zoning board isn't expected to make a decision Tuesday.

Proponents say a 650,000-square-foot shopping center would be in character for that stretch of Rand Road, which isn't far from malls in Deer Park and Lake Zurich.

A developer is not attached to the project. Architectural drawings made for county officials are strictly hypothetical.

Opponents have complained about traffic congestion, crime, environmental factors and other issues.

Foes of the plan have spent the last few meetings establishing their case. Tuesday, members of the public will be allowed to again tell the zoning board how they feel about the concept.

The zoning board advises the Lake County Board, which will have final say on the request. The Lake County Regional Planning Commission, a separate advisory panel, already has rejected the request.

Regardless of how the zoning board rules on the Dimuccis' plan, county board committees will discuss the proposal this fall.