Site plan approved for indoor soccer facility in Howard

By Kevin Boneske

Staff Writer

HOWARD – After tabling action last month, the village’s Plan Commission approved a site plan Monday, Sept. 21, from Allen Lee Investments for a new 8,640-square-foot indoor soccer facility in the 1600 block of Brookfield Avenue.

Brandon Robaidek of Robert E. Lee & Associates appeared before the commission on behalf of the MacRoc Soccer Academy project to discuss changes to make the commercial indoor soccer building design more aesthetically appealing, such as breaking up the straight steel look by adding windows, etc.

This drawing depicts the commercial building to be constructed as a soccer training facility in the 1600 block of Brookfield Avenue in Howard. Submitted Illustration

Village President Burt McIntyre called the changes “a big improvement” from the previous plans the commission tabled.

“It’s eye-catching,” he said.

Community Development Director Dave Wiese said a stormwater issue needs to be resolved with the original development of the Pirate Fastpitch complex in the area.

“They’ve still got to figure out their stormwater, and I think they’ll be working in conjunction with the other businesses in the area,” he said. “To do that, I know they’ve already contacted our village engineering department.”

Other conditions of approval include having all driveway areas and parking lots paved with asphalt within a year and planting trees and shrubs at a ratio of eight trees and 14 shrubs per acre.

Nsight building

In other action, the commission approved a site plan for Nsight to construct a 9,642-square-foot building at 5475 Glendale Ave.

Wiese said most of the building will be used for warehousing, with small offices in the front, and will be similar to the adjacent existing building.

Folkman addition

A site plan for a 60x120-foot building addition for Folkman, Inc. at 1530 Cornell Road also received commission approval.

Wiese said the addition will be built on the rear of the existing structure.

“It’s going to be a steel structure,” he said. “You’re not going to see much of it from the road.”

Wiese said the conditions of approval call for a stormwater management plan being approved by the village, along with screening of any outside storage or garbage/recycling containers.