Montessori school's new location wins approval from Mount Prospect trustees

A Montessori school that has operated in Mount Prospect since 1976 will stay in the village, moving to a new location in the Kensington Business Center.

The village board on Tuesday granted approval for Park View Montessori to move into a multi-tenant building at 1601 Feehanville Drive. The new location is zoned for industrial use, making village approval necessary.

The center has been operating out of 805 Burning Bush Lane, which is owned by the River Trails School District. The district, however, is planning to reuse the space.

The school initially planned to move to a location in the Golf Plaza II shopping center, but that was abandoned in favor of the Kensington Business Center. The school expects as many as 125 children at the new location, which will include an outdoor playground area along Feehanville Drive.

Trustee Paul Hoefert said the use is appropriate.

"I think we have encouraged over time uses beyond office and industrial in the Kensington Center," he said. "And because of that, and because of other things, the vacancy rate in Kensington Center is very low at this point."

Village Community Development Director Bill Cooney said the school provides employees of the business park with an amenity that it currently lacks, and would be viewed positively by people who work in the park.

Conditional uses have been granted for similar businesses in the immediate area, including Search Development School at 625 Slawin Court, The Gymnastics Shop at 600 N. Wheeling Road, Lakeshore Academy at 520 Business Center Drive, and MedTec Healthcare at 411 Business Center Drive.

David Petkovich, one of the school's administrators, told the village board he has until July to move out of the building that has housed the school for 43 years. He said the school is fortunate to find a new home close to the existing location.

The center provides care for children six weeks through 6 years.