Plan Commission

Village of Winnetka Plan Commission Regular Meeting March 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM Winnetka Village Hall Council Chambers 510 Green Bay Road AGENDA 1. Call to Order & Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes a. February 25, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes 3. Public Comments 4. Community Development Report 5. Continued Applications a. Case No. 26-05-SU: 730 Elm Street, Suite 120 - DUET Audiology Clinic: An application seeking approval of a Special Use Permit submitted by DUET Audiology Clinic, as the prospective lessee of the commercial space located at 730 Elm Street, Suite 120, to allow a medical office in the C-2 General Retail Commercial Overlay District. The property is currently owned by MDG Winnetka One, LP. The Village Council has final jurisdiction on this request. This item was continued from the February 25, 2026, Plan Commission meeting. 6. New Business a. April 22, 2026, Regular Meeting - Quorum Check 7. Adjournment NOTICE Public comment is permitted on all agenda items at the meeting. If you wish to provide testimony or comments prior to the meeting, you may provide them one of two ways: (1) by sending an email to planning@winnetka.org; or by sending a letter to Community Development, Village of Winnetka, 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093. All agenda materials are available at www.villageofwinnetka.org/agendacenter. The Village of Winnetka, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities, who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities contact the Village ADA Coordinator at 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093, (Telephone (847) 716-3543; T.D.D. (847) 501-6041). Page 1 of 64  1 WINNETKA PLAN COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 25, 2026 3 4 Members Present: Layla Danley, Chairperson 5 Matthew Bradley 6 Mamie Case 7 Chris Enck 8 King Poor 9 Cyrus Subawalla 10 Kate Van Vlack 11 12 Members Absent: Jonathan Alt 13 Christopher Blum 14 15 Non-Voting Members Present: Bridget Orsic 16 17 Village Staff: Scott Mangum, Community Development Director 18 Ann Klaassen, Assistant Director of Community 19 Development 20 21 Village Attorney: Peter Friedman 22 23 Call to Order & Roll Call: 24 The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Danley at 7:03 p.m. Ms. Klaassen took roll call of the 25 Commission Members present. 26 27 Approval of January 28, 2026 Meeting Minutes: 28 Chairperson Danley asked for a motion to approve the January 28, 2026, meeting minutes. A motion to 29 approve the January 28, 2026, meeting minutes was made by Ms. Case and seconded by Ms. Van Vlack. 30 A vote was taken and the motion unanimously passed, 7 to 0: 31 AYES: Bradley, Case, Danley, Enck, Poor, Subawalla, Van Vlack 32 NAYS: None 33 NON-VOTING: Orsic 34 35 Public Comment: 36 No comments were made at this time. 37 38 Community Development Report: 39 Mr. Mangum provided the Commission with an update on the Solidcore special use permit application. 40 41 Chairperson Danley first outlined two procedural issues in connection with tonight’s meeting and moved 42 to consider the 936 Sunset Road application to the end of the agenda. No comments were made at this 43 time from the Commission Members. Chairperson Danley then stated with regard to Case No. 25-05-SU 44 for 730 Elm Street which related to the One Winnetka development, she summarized the significant 45 concerns and issues raised with regard to non-retail uses on the first floor and the special use standards 46 being met. She suggested the matter be deferred to the next meeting in order for additional information 47 to be provided. Chairperson Danley then asked for a quorum check for the March 25, 2026, meeting. 48 The Commission Members discussed their availability. Page 2 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 2 1 Recommendations: 2 a. Case No. 25-28-SU: 225 Sheridan Road - Centennial Beach: Consideration of approval of 3 written findings and recommendation of the Plan Commission on the Special Use Permit application 4 to allow installation of fencing on the existing beach at 225 Sheridan Road. 5 Chairperson Danley referred to the findings and recommendations included in the agenda packet as 6 Attachment A2 on page 16 of the packet and asked for a motion to approve the written findings and 7 recommendations to deny the special use as requested by the applicant. A motion as stated by 8 Chairperson Danley was made by Mr. Poor and the motion was seconded by Ms. Case. A vote was taken 9 and the motion unanimously passed, 6 to 0: 10 AYES: Case, Danley, Enck, Poor, Subawalla, Van Vlack 11 NAYS: None 12 NON-VOTING: Bradley, Orsic 13 14 New Applications: 15 a. Case No. 25-24-SU: Winnetka Congregational Church - 725 Pine Street: An application seeking 16 approval of a Special Use Permit to allow a childcare center to operate in the existing church. The 17 Village Council has final jurisdiction on this request. 18 Ms. Klaassen summarized the request to lease space in the existing church building to operate a 19 childcare center with the applicant seeking a recommendation of approval of an amendment to a special 20 use permit which she described to the Commission. She identified the property’s location, zoning 21 classification and the limited amount of additional uses allowed in addition to single family residential 22 uses. Ms. Klaassen stated the Comprehensive Plan designated the property as appropriate for uses she 23 identified and that the applicant’s use is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan land use designation 24 and R-2 zoning. She then referred to site illustrations and outlined the number of employees and hours 25 of operation and noted there are no plans for expansion. Ms. Klaassen stated if in the future, the 26 applicant decided to add a playground, they would have to request special use approval. She stated the 27 applicant received preliminary approval from the DCFS in order to move forward which is contingent 28 upon minor facility modifications and Village approval. 29 30 Ms. Klaassen described plans for employee parking with the applicant having provided a traffic study 31 and noted the Village Engineer offered recommendations on the application which she described for the 32 Commission. She stated the ZBA would consider the request at a special meeting on March 16 and 33 referred to the standards they are to consider. Ms. Klaassen then stated following the applicant’s 34 presentation, public comment and Commission discussion, the Commission may decide to either 35 continue the matter to a date certain to allow time to address questions or comments or recommend 36 approval or denial with draft language for a motion provided in the packet. She noted additional 37 correspondence was received and provided to the Commission. Ms. Klaassen then asked if there were 38 any questions. 39 40 Chairperson Danley also asked if there were any questions. Ms. Van Vlack asked if the playground 41 discussion had been tabled. Ms. Klaassen responded the applicant is not currently proposing a 42 playground. Mr. Subawalla asked how many church members and employees there are. Ms. Klaassen 43 responded the applicant can answer that question. Ms. Van Vlack asked if the Commission is to consider 44 timely drop-off plans. Chairperson Danley responded that could be part of their consideration. 45 46 Chairperson Danley swore in those speaking to this matter. 47 48 Amy Falkowski, Winnetka Congregational Church Director of Operations, introduced Pastor Paulo Page 3 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 3 1 Franca, Julie McConnell, Chair of Congregation, Christie Sullenberger, committee member, Dan 2 Brinkman of Gewalt Hamilton Associates and Victor Cuebas of Jumpstart Early Learning Services. Ms. 3 Falkowski summarized the church’s history in the community and stated they discussed their proposed 4 plans with neighbors whose only concern related to traffic. She stated the traffic study resulted in little 5 to no traffic in the neighborhood. 6 7 Ms. Falkowski referred to the space which would be renovated and described their collaboration with 8 Jumpstart which would result in resolving the community’s need for additional childcare. She also 9 summarized the capacity which would increase incrementally. Ms. Falkowski then referred to 10 illustrations and identified drop-off and pickup locations. She stated with regard to the traffic study, 11 since it would be a daycare and not a school, she described the traffic pattern and their willingness to 12 resolve any issues that may arise. Ms. Falkowski referred to an illustration of the long driveway and 13 described the process as having a smooth transition. She informed the Commission they have 14 coordinated their approval with DCFS and confirmed there would be no footprint expansion. Ms. 15 Falkowski concluded by describing how the request would be beneficial for the community. 16 17 Chairperson Danley referred to Slide 16 which contained the parking lot outline and asked for the 18 specific family directive in terms of a specific traffic pattern. Ms. Falkowski described the entrance and 19 exit through the parking lot circle. Mr. Subawalla asked how many church employees would come to the 20 building during school days. Ms. Falkowski provided the staffing schedule for the Commission. Mr. 21 Subawalla asked if the property entrance is within 150 feet of Pine, Prospect and Lincoln. Ms. Falkowski 22 responded it is less than 150 feet. 23 24 Mr. Poor referred to the Village Engineer’s comments relating to the need for ongoing modifications or 25 monitoring how it would work and asked if they would be open to considering meeting with the Village 26 Engineer or neighbors after a few months of operation to determine its effectiveness. Ms. Falkowski 27 confirmed they would. Mr. Cuebas described their operations in terms of volume for their other two 28 locations which operate under a staggered start and release time. He also stated they do not have a 29 playground onsite and described how outdoor time is utilized. 30 31 Mr. Bradley asked if the capacity is set by code. Ms. Falkowski confirmed that is correct. Mr. Cuebas 32 informed the Commission the 64 figure for maximum capacity was derived by ratio and class size. He 33 also described the classroom makeup in terms of the children’s ages as well as the pickup times and 34 staff accommodation times for the rush periods. Mr. Cuebas then provided background check and 35 liability insurance information for their staff. Chairperson Danley asked if there is a structured 36 curriculum. Mr. Cuebas confirmed that is correct and described the curriculum to the Commission. Ms. 37 Case asked how infant drop-off is handled, which would impact traffic and parking. Mr. Cuebas 38 described the drop-off process, which varied on how families want it handled. 39 40 Mr. Enck referred to the Harkness House, which had limited daycare options and asked if they discussed 41 with them or the Winnetka Community Nursery School in terms of need. Ms. Falkowski confirmed they 42 have and stated they would relieve pressure for families on the waiting list. She stated the model would 43 be similar to Jumpstart’s other locations. Mr. Cuebas provided further information with regard to 44 electronic sign in and sign out. Ms. Van Vlack stated while she understood the concerns raised with 45 regard to traffic and the fact that there is an off-street area for parents to utilize, a lot of consideration 46 was provided in that regard. She also asked how many homes were included in the 150 foot area in 47 terms of impact. Ms. Falkowski estimated 60 homes with their having received a response from only one 48 family which attended the open house. Mr. Bradley asked if the facility would be ADA compliant. Ms. Page 4 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 4 1 Falkowski informed the Commission there is an elevator and ADA bathrooms. She added that section of 2 the building is fully ADA compliant. No additional questions were raised at this time. 3 4 Chairperson Danley asked for public comment. She swore in those speaking to this matter. 5 6 Bob Forbes, 684 Pine Street, stated he is a 27 year resident and described the parking and traffic 7 situation as well as the potential for accidents. He stated consideration needed to be given during peak 8 times. Mr. Forbes also referred to the Pine and Maple intersection and stated with the new commercial 9 use, there would be more traffic. He stated the One Winnetka development would also add more traffic 10 in the area. 11 12 Beckley Maggio, a Winnetka resident and Harkness House president, stated they have had several 13 conversations with the church with regard to the child care need. She agreed there is no formal drop-off 14 with day care uses and stated she is concerned with regard to the student/teacher ratio and the possible 15 violation of DCFS regulations. Ms. Middleton stated the entire facility would need to be secure during its 16 hours of operation. She also questioned the time the traffic study was conducted and stated the parking 17 and traffic concerns should not be taken lightly. Ms. Middleton concluded by stating while there is a 18 need for additional child care options, she is concerned with regard to safety of students in connection 19 with parking and the lack of an outside playground facility. 20 21 Julie McConnell, Chair of Winnetka Congregational Church, described their visioning process which 22 included being a bigger part of the community and the need expressed for day care facilities by 23 neighbors. She stated there would be no footprint change and minimal interior changes. No additional 24 comments were made at this time. 25 26 Chairperson Danley closed public comment and asked the applicant if they would like to respond. 27 28 Ms. Falkowski stated in response to Harkness House comments, they have approval by DCFS and there 29 are no issues with regard to security and children/teacher ratios. She stated with regard to traffic and 30 parking; they are willing to work to make changes after they begin operations if issues arise and it is 31 their intent to not be a neighborhood nuisance. Mr. Bradley referred to the pickup and drop-off pattern 32 and asked if it would create concerns in connection with DCFS ratios. Mr. Cuebas confirmed that was 33 part of their approval process. Chairperson Danley referred to commercial truck traffic. Mr. Cuebas 34 explained how the food van caterer would drop off food early in the morning. Mr. Subawalla questioned 35 the right-of-way width at Pine and Prospect. Dan Brinkman stated he did not have that information and 36 described the process of how traffic counts were taken and observations and the traffic study being 37 done on a Thursday in December. Mr. Poor referred to the comments raised with regard to the effect of 38 One Winnetka on traffic. Mr. Brinkman explained the process which took into account growth and five 39 year projections. Mr. Poor questioned whether traffic signs would be utilized similar to those used in 40 school zones. Mr. Brinkman explained the difficulty of school zone signage utilization and stated he is 41 not aware of the requirement for such a commercial use. Ms. Klaassen stated they could look into what 42 would be required to install such signage. Ms. Van Vlack commented on the safety issues and parking in 43 the area. No comments were made at this time. 44 45 Chairperson Danley called the matter in for discussion. Trustee Orsic stated with parking and traffic 46 being the biggest concern, she referred to a preschool in a church in the city which was able to work out 47 issues. She also stated neighborhood parents would walk and there would be varied hours with 48 staggered amounts of traffic. Trustee Orsic agreed with Mr. Poor’s suggestion to ensure any issues be Page 5 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 5 1 discussed and resolved. Mr. Poor commented the presentation was thoughtful and agreed there are 2 traffic concerns which he indicated are manageable. He stated the church is agreeable to manage any 3 issues with monitoring of the situation over the first several months which he would suggest as a 4 condition. Mr. Poor added signage and speed limits should also be investigated. He concluded he would 5 vote to recommend approval with the modifications he suggested. Mr. Subawalla stated the request 6 would be good for the community and traffic should be done in a multi-directional flow. He also 7 suggested limiting parking on the Prospect side of the street and that there would be numerous vehicles 8 onsite at any given time. Mr. Subawalla concluded the proposal would be very valid for the community. 9 10 Ms. Case agreed with the proposal and the need for additional childcare opportunities for the 11 community. She stated she is very concerned with regard to the pickup/drop-off situation and agreed 12 with the one way traffic suggestion. Ms. Case referred to the amount of activity in the area and agreed 13 conditions should be placed on the recommendation. Mr. Enck referred to the difficulty in finding 14 childcare in the area and stated the proposal would be in line with the Comprehensive Plan and would 15 be a benefit to the community. He stated the other concerns raised are resolvable and agreed there are 16 ways in which to resolve any issues. Mr. Enck also referred to the amount of traffic at Harkness House 17 and suggested working with the Village Engineer and the Police Department with regard to Pine Street. 18 19 Ms. Van Vlack agreed with the comments made and stated it would be important to establish rules in 20 terms of traffic for those using the facility. She also stated there are many preschools set within 21 neighborhoods and referred to the amount of traffic on Sundays which was not mentioned in the traffic 22 study. Ms. Van Vlack then stated with the cell phone alert suggestion, she would encourage a system 23 utilizing more of an advanced warning system rather than encouraging cell phone use while driving. She 24 also stated turning around in driveways should be prohibited. Ms. Van Vlack concluded there is a need 25 for child care options and agreed the proposal would represent a great use of the unused space. Trustee 26 Orsic agreed with Ms. Van Vlack’s comments with regard to cell phone use and referred to geo tracking, 27 which they would be using. Mr. Bradley referred to the roundabout as a unique solution that other day 28 care schools do not have to alleviate congestion and agreed with the conditions suggested which would 29 be difficult to enforce. He suggested exploring starting with a lower child count to ensure a smooth 30 traffic flow as opposed to having 64 children initially. Chairperson Danley agreed with the comments 31 made and agreed there is a community need with the main concern relating to traffic with specific 32 issues she identified. She then stated she did not agree that streets need to be turned into one way 33 direction and she would suggest the condition of having a defined traffic plan submitted with the 34 application to direct parents in terms of the pickup and drop-off function. 35 36 Chairperson Danley then asked for a motion and referred to page no. 407 with the condition as stated. 37 Mr. Poor moved to recommend approval of the request based on the Commission Members’ collective 38 comments. He stated a condition for approval should be a requirement of a traffic flow and parking plan 39 reviewed and approved by the Village Engineer and the Police Chief to be made to the Village Council. 40 Mr. Poor also stated a condition of approval would be the benefit of having a monitoring function of 41 one, two or three months with the Village Engineer, Police Department and neighbors to ensure any 42 issues are resolved. He stated the issue of signage should be taken up with Public Works. Chairperson 43 Danley asked Mr. Friedman if there is a way to include the parking and traffic plan condition as a 44 recommendation of approval. Mr. Friedman confirmed it has been done before in terms of a specific 45 review period with Village monitoring being done to ensure compliance. 46 47 Mr. King moved to recommend approval of the request conditioned upon a traffic flow plan prepared by 48 the church, and approved by the Village Engineer and Police Department, that would be included in any Page 6 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 6 1 presentation made to the Village Council. Ms. Case seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the 2 motion unanimously passed, 6 to 0: 3 AYES: Case, Danley, Enck, Poor, Subawalla, Van Vlack 4 NAYS: None 5 NON-VOTING: Bradley, Orsic 6 7 Ms. Case left the meeting at this time. 8 9 b. Case No. 26-05-SU: 730 Elm Street, Suite 120 - DUET Audiology Clinic: An application seeking 10 approval of a Special Use Permit submitted by DUET audiology clinic, as the prospective lessee of the 11 commercial space located at 730 Elm Street, Suite 120, to allow a medical office in the C-2 General 12 Retail Commercial Overlay District. The property is currently owned by MDG Winnetka One, LP. The 13 Village Council has final jurisdiction on this request. 14 The Commission Members previously moved to defer the discussion of this item to the March 25, 2026, 15 meeting. 16 17 c. Case No. 25-16-SD: 936 Sunset Road: An amended application seeking approval of a Final Plat 18 of Subdivision to allow a two-lot subdivision of 936 Sunset Road, which requires (i) variations to allow: 19 (a) proposed Lot 1 to provide less than the minimum required lot depth; (b) a side lot line abutting a 20 rear lot line; (c) a side lot line that is not perpendicular to the street line; and (ii) a finding of "No 21 Material Increased Adverse Impact" for existing improvements on proposed Lot 1 (936 Sunset Road) 22 which (a) observe less than the minimum required front yard setback from Sunset Road; (b) observe 23 less than the minimum required corner yard setback from Higginson Lane; and (c) exceeds the 24 maximum permitted width for a front-facing garage door. The Village Council has final jurisdiction on 25 this request. 26 Ms. Klaassen summarized the discussion on the application from the September 2025 meeting as well as 27 the ZBA’s consideration of the request. She then identified the amendments made to the subdivision 28 request which included compliance with zoning requirements for the south lot (Lot 2) with the north lot 29 (Lot 1) requiring relief from the minimum lot depth requirement. Ms. Klaassen referred to a table 30 showing the prior and current zoning requirements. She also stated the proposed amended subdivision 31 required two variations from the subdivision code which she identified for the Commission and referred 32 to illustrations for the Commission’s review. Ms. Klaassen noted the amended subdivision would not 33 create zoning nonconformities on the proposed Lot 1 and one of the existing playhouses would have to 34 be removed to accommodate the new lot line dividing the two lots. She then identified the existing 35 nonconformities which would remain. 36 37 Ms. Klaassen identified the factors the Commission is to consider with regard to the proposed 38 subdivision and stated following the applicant’s presentation and Commission discussion (she noted 39 there were no members of the public in attendance), the Commission may decide to either continue the 40 matter to a date certain to allow time to address questions or comments or consider a motion to 41 recommend approval or denial of the request with draft language included in the packet. She noted no 42 additional public comments were received regarding the amended plan and asked if there were any 43 questions. 44 45 Mr. Poor referred to a prior 2014 zoning case and asked if the ZBA denied the request for variations for 46 something similar. Ms. Klaassen responded the similar application was withdrawn prior to presentation 47 to the Commission with the concerns related to the flood plain. She confirmed no home was built on Lot 48 2. Chairperson Danley noted Mr. Blum was on the ZBA at that time and described the flood issues and Page 7 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 7 1 home appearance at that time. She asked if there were any other questions. No additional questions 2 were raised at this time. 3 4 Chairperson Danley asked for the applicant’s presentation and swore in those speaking to this matter. 5 Christopher Canning, 1000 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette, introduced himself and Dan Creaney, the civil 6 engineer, and Susan Marren, the property owner, to the Commission. He first disclosed his previous 7 working relationship with Mr. Poor and summarized the September 2025 request and the 2014 ZBA 8 presentation in detail. Mr. Canning also described their attempts to rectify the concerns which resulted 9 in the current presentation of Option 1 and how the lot lines would be configured. Mr. Canning 10 addressed how the subdivision would meet various standards relating to the side lot line and their 11 request for a finding of no material increased adverse impact. He then asked if there were any 12 questions. 13 14 Chairperson Danley also asked if there were any questions. Mr. Poor referred to the variation for the 15 side lot line which would abut the rear lot line. Mr. Canning confirmed that is correct and would result in 16 the same condition as it existed in 1976. Mr. Poor also referred to the Lot 2 depth requirement which 17 would become part of Lot 1. Mr. Canning referred to illustrations and explained the issues which related 18 to the configuration. He also explained their response to the concerns the Commission raised and the 19 various items the Commission is to consider. No additional questions were raised at this time. 20 21 Chairperson Danley noted there are no members of the public present to comment and called the 22 matter in for discussion. Mr. Bradley referred to an illustration and summarized the ZBA’s review of the 23 request. Chairperson Danley described the proposal as a better solution and stated she had no problem 24 with the request as presented. Ms. Van Vlack described the proposal as a great solution and she would 25 be in favor of the request. Mr. Enck and Mr. Subawalla agreed with the comments made and stated they 26 would recommend approval. Mr. Poor stated his concern is that there are certain things that cannot be 27 avoided and the driver of the request is building a home in the flood plain and the concerns with regard 28 to flooding. He also referred to the neighbors’ concerns. Mr. Poor stated then with regard to restoring 29 the home to the 1976 condition, there are a lot of different factors which were not a concern at that 30 time. He referred to several substantial rain events over the years and the work done by the Village 31 Council in terms of mitigation. Mr. Poor stated if the request was not located in a flood plain, there 32 would be no issue and that any compensatory storage required may not be adequate to alleviate 33 concerns. Chairperson Danley informed Mr. Poor that the Commission discussed these issues 34 significantly in September. Mr. Poor and the Commission Members explained their positions in 35 significant detail. 36 37 Chairperson Danley asked for a motion as indicated on page 272 which included a condition to remove 38 the playhouse. Mr. Enck moved to recommend approval of the proposed Marren’s Resubdivision Final 39 Plat known as 936 Sunset Road into two new lots of record in the final plat of subdivision which 40 subdivision required the variations listed on page 272 with the condition of the removal of the 41 playhouse. Ms. Van Vlack seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed, 4 to 1: 42 AYES: Danley, Enck, Subawalla, Van Vlack 43 NAYS: Poor 44 NON-VOTING: Bradley, Orsic 45 46 New Business. 47 a. March 25, 2026, Meeting – Quorum Check. 48 The Commission Members previously discussed their availability. Page 8 of 64  February 25, 2026 Page 8 1 Adjournment: 2 Chairperson Danley asked for a motion to adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Bradley and 3 seconded by Mr. Enck. A vote was taken and the motion unanimously passed, 7 to 0: 4 AYES: Bradley, Case, Danley, Enck, Poor, Subawalla, Van Vlack 5 NAYS: None 6 NON-VOTING: Trustee Orsic 7 The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. 8 9 Respectfully submitted, 10 11 Antionette Johnson 12 Recording Secretary Page 9 of 64  MEMORANDUM VILLAGE OF WINNETKA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: PLAN COMMISSION FROM: SCOTT MANGUM, AICP, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER MARX, AICP, ASSOCIATE PLANNER DATE: MARCH 18, 2026 SUBJECT: 730 ELM STREET, SUITE 120 – DUET AUDIOLOGY CLINIC SPECIAL USE PERMIT (CASE NO. 26-05-SU) INTRODUCTION On March 25, 2026, the Plan Commission (“PC”) is scheduled to hold a public hearing to consider an application submitted by DUET Audiology Clinic (the “Applicant”), as the prospective lessee of the property located at 730 Elm Street, Suite 120 (the “Subject Property”), to allow a medical office to occupy the Subject Property. The property is currently owned by MDG Winnetka One, LP. The Applicant has filed an application seeking approval of a Special Use Permit in accordance with Chapter 17.56 [Special Uses] of the Winnetka Zoning Ordinance to permit a medical office in the C-2 General Retail Commercial Overlay District at the Subject Property. The Applicant currently operates similar audiology clinics in Lake Forest and Northfield and is looking to relocate the Northfield clinic to the Subject Property. This item was originally scheduled for the February 25, 2026, PC meeting; however, as explained below, the PC continued the item to the March 25, 2026, PC meeting. A sign was posted on the Subject Property and a website notice was posted on the Village website indicating the time and date of the original PC public hearing. A mail notice was also sent to property owners within 500 feet of the Subject Property informing them of the original public hearing date. As of the date of this memo, staff has received one written comment from the public regarding this application which is included as Attachment C. FEBRUARY 25, 2026, PLAN COMMISSION MEETING On February 25, 2026, the Plan Commission continued the item, without objection or discussion, to its March 25, 2026, meeting to allow an updated staff report to further explain standards used to evaluate the application. A copy of the draft February 25 Plan Commission meeting minutes is included in the March 25 agenda packet for the Plan Commission’s consideration. As stated by the Chair at the February 25 meeting, this request is important as it relates to the One Winnetka Development and particularly the uses allowed on the first floor of the One Winnetka Building. As the Plan Commission’s discussion and vote on the SolidCore proposal, and as shown in the Village Council’s deliberations on that request, there are significant issues and concerns regarding non-retail uses on the first floor and the special use standards that must be met for these requests. The Village Council will ultimately resolve those issues when the request is reviewed for a final decision. At this point, however, the Applicant has supplied as part of its application materials a narrative addressing how this proposal complies with all Page 1 Page 10 of 64 twelve (12) standards. The Village Staff and Village Attorney recommend that the Plan Commission evaluate the proposed use utilizing those twelve (12) standards. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION The Subject Property is one of the commercial spaces located in the four-story mixed-use building that is currently under construction at 720-736 Elm Street and 515-525 Lincoln Avenue (newly assigned addresses), often referred to as One Winnetka, located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Elm Street and Lincoln Avenue. The approximately 1,565 square-foot space at 730 Elm Street, Suite 120 is a portion of the 20,955 square feet of commercial space in the One Winnetka building and is on the eastern portion of the building’s north facing commercial space. To date, the other tenants within the development that have received approvals are the Winnetka Aesthetic Studio medical office and a Charles Schwab financial services office. The Solidcore fitness studio special use permit application was before the Village Council on February 17, 2026, for policy direction and is anticipated to return to the Village Council at a future date with additional information about parking demand and class schedules. A full-service restaurant is expected to occupy the northwestern space on the first floor near the street intersection with a quick-casual format restaurant occupying the remaining tenant space. There will also be 59 residential units on the second, third, and fourth floors. The Subject Property is located within the Village’s Commercial Overlay District, which allows non-retail uses, such as medical offices; however, the Zoning Ordinance requires that they be evaluated by the Plan Commission and Village Council as a special use. Figures 1 through 3 below and on the following page identify the One Winnetka site and the proposed location of the medical office. Proposed Location of DUET Audiology Clinic Figure 1 – One Winnetka Site – GIS Map Page 2 Page 11 of 64  Proposed Location of DUET Audiology Clinic Figure 2 – One Winnetka Site - Aerial Location Map Proposed Location of DUET Audiology Clinic Entrance into Shared Vestibule Figure 3 – One Winnetka – North Facing Elm Street Façade COMMERCIAL OVERLAY DISTRICT BACKGROUND The Overlay District was established in 1987 out of concern about the viability of the business districts as a whole if non-retail occupancies were allowed to proliferate and occupy significant areas within retail shopping districts. At the time of adoption there was a concern about the possible proliferation of real estate offices and financial institutions. The Village Zoning Ordinance describes the purpose of the Overlay District and its restrictions on non- retail uses as being: “to encourage retailing of comparison shopping goods and personal services compatible with such retailing on ground floor in order to encourage a clustering of such uses, to provide for a wide variety of retail shops and expose such shops to maximum foot traffic, while keeping such traffic in concentrated (yet well distinguished) channels throughout the district.” Page 3 Page 12 of 64 Since its adoption in 1987, the Overlay District has been revised on more than one occasion to alter district boundaries, or to modify the types of uses which are permitted within each district. The most recent amendment occurred on April 4, 2019, when the Village Council adopted MC-01-2019, amending the Zoning Ordinance regarding uses and regulations in the three commercial districts, including amendments to the Overlay District and the standards used to evaluate a special use. ELM STREET BUSINESS DISTRICTS OVERLAY BOUNDARIES A map depicting the zoning classifications of the Elm Street Business Districts is included on the following page as Figure 4. The One Winnetka site is highlighted yellow. Gray areas indicate the underlying C-2 General Retail Commercial zoning, which permits by right a relatively broad array of uses, including various retail uses, along with a number of non-retail uses such as professional offices, financial service firms, medical offices and the like. Red crosshatch areas represent those areas subject to the restrictions of the Commercial Overlay District. The boundaries of the Overlay District are established along certain public streets and extend for a depth of 50 feet from the front property line. Subject Property Figure 4 – Elm Street Business Districts PREVIOUS APPROVALS On January 21, 2025, the Village Council adopted Ordinance M-01-2025, an Ordinance Granting Final Approval of a Planned Development, Zoning Exceptions, a Special Use for Ground Floor Parking, and Special Use Findings for Medical and Financial Services Uses (511-515 Lincoln Avenue and 714-740 Elm Street - One Winnetka). An excerpt of Ordinance M-01-2025 is provided in Attachment B. According to Ordinance M-01-2025, the location and amount of space occupied by medical uses and Page 4 Page 13 of 64 financial service uses in the One Winnetka building are limited as follows: a. No such uses shall occupy the northwesternmost corner of the commercial space of the ground floor commercial space; b. No such uses shall occupy an aggregate space greater than 50% of the gross commercial square footage, or 9,750 square feet of the building; c. No individual financial service use shall occupy more than 1/3 of the gross commercial square footage, or 6,500 square feet of the building; d. No individual medical use shall occupy more than 3,250 square feet of the gross commercial square footage of the building; e. Approval of the “appropriateness” of such uses is limited to 10 years from the approval of Ordinance M-01-2025. There have been three other special use permit applications submitted for the One Winnetka building, two of which have been approved by the Village Council and one that is pending: 1. Charles Schwab. On September 16, 2025, the Village Council adopted Ordinance M-12-2025, an Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for the Operation of a Financial Counseling Office Within the C-2 Commercial Overlay District, which approved the special use permit for Charles Schwab financial services to occupy office space at 720 Elm Street. 2. Winnetka Aesthetic Studio. On December 2, 2025, the Village Council adopted Ordinance M-18- 2025, an Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for the Operation of a Medical Office Within the C-2 Commercial Overlay District, which approved the special use permit for Winnetka Aesthetic Studio to occupy commercial space at 730 Elm Street, Suite 130. 3. Solidcore. On January 28, 2026, the Plan Commission considered a special use permit application submitted by Solidcore fitness studio and by a vote of 5-3 recommended denial of the request. The application was before the Village Council initially on February 17 and again on March 3, 2026, at which time the Council voted to direct the Village Staff and Village Attorney to prepare an ordinance granting the requested special use subject to certain conditions. The Council is scheduled to consider the approval ordinance at its meeting on March 19, 2026. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT REQUEST The Applicant is proposing to open a medical office in the One Winnetka building for an audiology practice that would specialize in hearing-related medical treatment using a wide range of technologies, therapies, and techniques that the Applicant describes as holistic and preventative care. The proposed audiology clinic would occupy approximately 1,565 square feet towards the eastern center of the One Winnetka building with approximately 28 feet of street frontage along Elm Street. Access into the tenant space would be through a shared entrance vestibule that would also be used by Winnetka Aesthetic Studio and a quick-casual format restaurant. The front of the clinic would be an open greeting area with a concierge desk and seating area, with offices, workstations, and exam rooms located down the hallway towards the back of the space. The proposed medical office use, and the other previously approved uses, would comply with the location and size limitations outlined earlier in this report. No individual medical use would be greater than 3,250 square feet in size and in aggregate the proposed medical and financial services uses would total 8,585 square feet, which is less than the maximum of 9,750 square feet allowed. The Applicant’s written description of the proposed use is included in the application materials which are provided as Attachment A. Page 5 Page 14 of 64 The audiology clinic would have business hours between 8:30am and 4:30pm from Monday through Friday with occasional appointments on one or two Saturdays each month. The audiology clinic would have a maximum of 8 occupants between employees and patients in any given hour, with 3 to 5 employees and 2 to 3 patients, and an average of 8 to 10 appointments per day with occasional walk-in visits, in a clinical environment that the Applicant describes as low volume. Some of the services that would be offered include diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid consultations, hearing-related massage therapy, a proprietary ear-to-brain fitness system for music training, and related audiology care. The audiology clinic would provide retail offerings towards the front of the office with products related to its practice including hearing protection earmuffs, headphones, hearing aids, therapeutic goggles, small musical instruments and musical accessories. For parking, the Applicant is proposing that its employees secure the necessary parking permit and park in public parking lots in the district, including the Village-owned parking lot adjacent to One Winnetka, which does contain “A” permit parking spaces for employees. The Applicant indicates that patients will utilize parking spaces in the ground level of the commercial parking within the One Winnetka building. The off-street parking provided on the One Winnetka site for commercial uses consists of 39 spaces in the ground level of the building, which is the same number of parking spaces required by the Zoning Ordinance. For reference, the Zoning Ordinance requirement for commercial uses is two spaces for every 1,000 square feet of tenant space. Ten of the ground level spaces are to be reserved for the Charles Schwab office that was approved in a previous special use permit case. The Applicant indicates that some employees and patients will also take advantage of the Winnetka stop on the Union Pacific North Metra line that is immediately adjacent to the One Winnetka Building. Figure 5 on the following page highlights the commercial space the Applicant is proposing to occupy in the north section of the One Winnetka building. Figure 6 shows the proposed floor plan and layout for the audiology clinic. Proposed Location Proposed “Fare” Quick Charles Schwab of Solidcore Casual Restaurant Proposed “Arcadia” Full Service Restaurant Winnetka Aesthetic Studio Proposed Location of DUET Audiology Clinic Figure 5 – One Winnetka Ground Level Plan Page 6 Page 15 of 64  Figure 6 – Excerpt of Proposed Floor Plan DESIGN REVIEW BOARD REVIEW The Applicant has indicated that it has no plans to alter the exterior of the building that is currently under construction, except for potential commercial signs that will be applied for at a later date. Any proposed signage or exterior alterations, including lighting, will require submission of a Sign Permit application or Certificate of Appropriateness application that must be reviewed and approved by the Village’s Design Review Board. STANDARDS FOR REVIEW / FINDINGS The “Purpose” section of Chapter 17.56 Special Uses, states the following regarding special uses: It is recognized that there are special types of uses which because of their specific characteristics in relationship to uses permitted by right in a particular district, or the services which they provide, cannot be properly permitted by right in a particular district without consideration, in each case, of the impact of such uses upon neighboring land, or of the public need for such uses at a particular location. A land use classified as a special use is an allowed land use as long as the Applicant can demonstrate that the proposed use in its proposed specific location meets the applicable standards for granting special use approval. Section 17.44 of the Zoning Ordinance provides a series of twelve (12) standards for the evaluation of Special Use applications within the Commercial Overlay District, which provides a framework for evaluation by the Plan Commission. Although the previous approval granted by Ordinance M-01-2025 refers to certain standards in the context of a proposed medical office use, such as the Applicant’s proposed use, the Applicant has supplied as part of its application materials a narrative addressing how this proposal complies with all twelve (12) standards. Accordingly, Village Staff and the Village Attorney recommend that the Plan Commission review and consider the Applicant’s proposed use in light of all twelve standards listed below: Page 7 Page 16 of 64 Following conclusion of public comment and Commission discussion, a Commission member may choose to make the following motion: I make a motion that: The Plan Commission recommends approval [denial] of the requested special use to allow the Applicant, DUET Audiology Clinic, to operate a medical office at 730 Elm Street, Suite 120 within the C-2 Commercial Overlay District, based on the following findings of fact: “The medical office (the “Special Use”) is [is not] consistent with the Standards for granting of Special Use Permits in the Commercial Overlay District, which are as follows: 1. The establishment, maintenance, and operation of the Special Use will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, comfort, morals, or general welfare; 2. The Special Use will not be substantially injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity which are permitted by right in the district or districts of concern, nor substantially diminish or impair property values in the immediate vicinity; 3. The establishment of Special Use will not impede the normal and orderly development or improvement of other property in the immediate vicinity for uses permitted by right in the district or districts of concern; 4. Adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide ingress and egress in a manner which minimize pedestrian and vehicular traffic congestion in the public ways; 5. Adequate parking, utilities, access roads, drainage, and other facilities necessary to the operation of the Special Use exists or are to be provided; 6. The Special Use in all other respects conforms to the applicable regulations of this and other village ordinances and codes; 7. The proposed special use at the proposed location will encourage, facilitate and enhance the continuity, concentration, and pedestrian nature of the area in a manner similar to that of retail uses; 8. The location of the proposed special use along a block frontage shall provide for a minimum interruption in the existing and potential continuity and concentration of the retail uses along the block’s frontage; 9. The proposed special use at the proposed location will provide for display windows, provided that the street facing windows remain open and transparent as viewed from the sidewalk into the tenant space. The proposed special use at the proposed location will provide for facades, signage and lighting similar in nature and compatible with that provided by retail uses; 10. If the proposed special use provides multi-use areas, such as retail merchandise areas, restaurant dining areas, general office space, private offices, reception areas, or employee work areas, any proposed retail merchandise area or restaurant dining area shall be concentrated and located immediately adjacent to the sidewalk and clearly visible Page 8 Page 17 of 64  from the street in such a fashion as to invite customers to browse or dine; 11. If a proposed new building contemplates a mix of retail, office and service type uses, the minimum frontage for each retail use adjacent to the sidewalk shall be 20 feet with a minimum gross floor area of 400 square feet. In addition, such retail space shall be devoted to active retail merchandising which maintain typical and customary hours of operation; and 12. The proposed location and operation of the proposed special use shall not significantly diminish the availability of parking for district clientele wishing to patronize existing retail businesses.” The Commission’s recommendation is subject to no conditions [the following conditions]: 1. [Insert conditions…] As noted above, the Commission may also wish to consider if there are any additional conditions it may want to place on the facility’s operation. This request is subject to final approval by the Village Council. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Application Materials Attachment B: Excerpt of Ordinance M-01-2025, adopted on January 21, 2025 Attachment C: Public Correspondence Page 9 Page 18 of 64 ATTACHMENT A 26-05-SU Page 19 of 64 Healthy Hearing – Healthy Brain DUET: Bringing Innovative Ear to Brain Wellness to the Village of Winnetka Dear Members of the Village of Winnetka, I am proud to introduce DUET, an innovative Ear to Brain wellness concept designed to strengthen cognitive health, enhance communication, and promote lifelong hearing vitality for residents of all ages. DUET is not a traditional audiology clinic. Our model is rooted in neuroscience research from the Brainvolts Laboratory at Northwestern University, translating leading-edge research on auditory brain health into accessible, community-based care. After successfully piloting our concept in Lake Forest, we are excited to bring this one-of-a- kind Ear to Brain care experience to Winnetka, a community known for its commitment to education, wellness, and innovation. The DUET experience itself was thoughtfully designed in collaboration with our designers in Switzerland, blending science, aesthetics, and sensory engagement. Why DUET Aligns with Winnetka’s Values Winnetka has long prioritized: • Lifelong learning • Public health and wellness • Strong intergenerational community ties • Support for families and aging residents DUET directly supports these priorities by focusing on functional hearing, cognitive resilience, and social connection — three pillars that significantly influence quality of life and healthy aging. Hearing loss is increasingly recognized as a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. By addressing auditory health proactively, we help residents remain engaged, independent, and socially connected. Page 20 of 64 What DUET Offers the Community Preventive Ear to Brain Care Comprehensive evaluations that go beyond hearing thresholds to assess auditory processing and cognitive listening demands. Brain-Strengthening Programs Evidence-informed auditory training is designed to improve speech clarity in noise, attention, and neural timing. Stress-Reducing Music Therapies Programs that support overall wellness and cortisol regulation. Precision Hearing Technology Prescriptive fittings and hearing longevity consultations to ensure safe, optimized listening across the lifespan. Community Educational Programs Monthly educational campaigns offered to community groups, libraries, schools and online based on new research investigating how things going on in our body can affect our hearing brain. A Community with Global Impact DUET also invites Winnetka residents to participate in our “Hearing the Call” initiative, which refurbishes donated hearing aids and provides them to children in underserved communities around the world. This creates a meaningful opportunity for Winnetka to extend its impact beyond its borders while reinforcing values of service and compassion. In Tanzania, we have supported children with albinism who require hearing and safety support. Albino children face severe social vulnerability; they are hunted by witch doctor who believe their bones have magic powers so the chop off their limbs and grind up their bones to create positions. These kids are placed in protected orphanages until 8th grade. If they do not pass the high school exam they are put on the street. Hearing keeps them safe. They can’t learn if they can’t hear. Hearing also alerts them to danger. Several of the children we fitted with hearing aids were able to improve their learning outcomes and continue into protected secondary education programs. Page 21 of 64 Economic & Community Contribution DUET contributes to Winnetka by: • Expanding innovative healthcare offerings within the village • Supporting local partnerships and programming • Attracting families seeking advanced wellness services • Strengthening Winnetka’s identity as a forward-thinking, health-conscious community Retail tax: hearing aids, headphones, Therbody devices, nutraceuticals The DUET Goal Not simply louder hearing — but: • Stronger auditory processing • Sharper speech clarity • Greater cognitive resilience • Lifelong functional hearing wellness Operations Overview Hours of Operation Monday–Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Saturday (limited hours by appointment) Closed Sundays Staffing • 1–3 practitioners on-site at a time (some take the train) • 1 administrative coordinator Patient Volume • Walk ins welcome all day to learn and shop, popular in Lake Forest • Estimated 6–10 clients per day • Staggered scheduling to prevent waiting room congestion Traffic & Parking Impact DUET is a low-traffic professional service model: Page 22 of 64  • No high-turnover retail traffic • No delivery trucks beyond standard small parcel carriers • Minimal peak-hour congestion • Clients typically arrive individually rather than in groups Parking demand is very light. Our Lake Forest model utilizes street parking with no distribution. Noise & Environmental Impact Despite being hearing-focused, DUET produces no external noise impact: • All sound therapies occur within acoustically treated interior rooms • No amplified exterior sound • No outdoor programming • No vibration or mechanical impact to adjacent tenants The studio design emphasizes quiet, controlled acoustic environments. Retail Component Retail offerings include: • Prescriptive hearing aids • Hearing protection and headphones • Nutraceuticals • Wellness and recovery products Retail sales are accessory to professional services and do not constitute primary storefront retail traffic. DUET aligns with Winnetka’s commitment to: • Preventive health • Lifelong learning • Aging-in-place support • Family-centered wellness Hearing health is increasingly recognized as a modifiable factor in cognitive decline and social isolation. By providing proactive Ear to Brain wellness services, DUET supports both younger students (attention and auditory processing) and older residents seeking cognitive resilience. Page 23 of 64 Additionally, our global hearing aid refurbishment initiative invites local participation in humanitarian outreach, reinforcing Winnetka’s culture of service. We respectfully request approval to operate DUET within the appropriate zoning classification and look forward to becoming a positive, contributing member of the Winnetka community and partnering in its continued leadership in education, health, and civic vitality. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Lori Halvorson, AuD, FAAA, CH-TH Doctor of Audiology Founder of DUET Page 24 of 64 Page 25 of 64 Page 26 of 64 Page 27 of 64 Page 28 of 64 Page 29 of 64 Healthy Hearing – Healthy Brain DUET Proposed Business Operation The proposed use for DUET is a private audiology practice employing an innovative paradigm shift in hearing care, based on scientific biologic evidence. DUET leads with preventive care and wholistic hearing treatment, to engage neuroplasticity in the brain employing auditory biohacking methods such as music for Ear to Brain Fitness, Prescription Fit Hearing Aids to deliver precise sound detail. MTP Massage to increase circulation, Sound Bath to calm the nervous system. Services will include diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid consultations and fittings, trademarked Ear to Brain Fitness with music training, massage therapy and related audiology care. The practice will be staffed by four employees, including board certified doctors of audiology, master degreed musician, certified massage therapist and administrative support staff. The practice is designed to serve a low-volume patient population, with approximately two to three patients on site at any given time. Operations are conducted in a quiet, clinical setting with no manufacturing, hazardous materials, or retail sales beyond audiology- related medical devices. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one to two Saturday per month for scheduled appointments and Sound Bath experiences. The business use is consistent with a professional medical office and is not expected to generate excessive noise, traffic, or disruption to surrounding properties. Page 30 of 64 Healthy Hearing – Healthy Brain SPECIAL USE PERMIT STANDARDS C-2 COMMERCIAL OVERLAY 1. Public Health, Safety, and Welfare The proposed audiology clinic and medical retail operation will enhance public health by providing diagnostic hearing services and access to hearing health products that improve quality of life. All clinical operations will comply with applicable state healthcare regulations, ADA accessibility standards, and village building and fire codes, ensuring that the establishment, maintenance, and operation are safe, sanitary, and non- disruptive to the public welfare. 2. Compatibility and Property Values The clinic’s professional medical use and attractive retail frontage are consistent with surrounding commercial uses. Exterior design, signage, and operation will be in keeping with nearby retail establishments, ensuring that the use will not diminish property values or interfere with the enjoyment of neighboring properties. Instead, the clinic is expected to increase foot traffic and contribute to the economic vitality of the block. 3. Orderly Development The proposed use is compatible with the village’s comprehensive plan and surrounding land uses. It will not impede the normal development of nearby parcels; rather, it supports the village’s goal of attracting health-related and service-oriented businesses that complement traditional retail. 4. Ingress, Egress, and Traffic Adequate and safe ingress and egress will be provided from [insert street name(s)]. Parking and site access will comply with village standards, and the use is expected to generate low traffic volumes comparable to other medical offices. The layout is designed to minimize pedestrian and vehicular congestion while ensuring ADA accessibility 5. Parking, Utilities, and Facilities Page 31 of 64 The property has access to existing municipal utilities, drainage, and roadways. Adequate on-site or shared parking is available in accordance with zoning requirements. No significant improvements to infrastructure are required beyond normal tenant build-out and signage installation. 6. Ordinance Compliance The clinic and retail operation will comply fully with all village building, signage, health, fire safety, and zoning codes. All applicable business licenses and healthcare professional certifications will be obtained prior to operation. 7. Continuity and Pedestrian Orientation The proposed use will enhance pedestrian activity by offering a welcoming storefront, consistent with nearby retail establishments. Retail educational and product displays (e.g., hearing aids, ear care products) will be visible from the sidewalk, inviting walk-in traffic and fostering street-level vibrancy. 8. Minimal Interruption of Retail Continuity The clinic’s retail frontage will be designed to maintain the visual and functional continuity of retail uses along the block. The clinic’s signage, window displays, and regular hours of operation will contribute to the active rhythm of the streetscape rather than interrupt it. 9. Active Display Windows and Compatible Design The storefront will include transparent, well-lit display windows showcasing retail hearing products and educational materials about hearing health. Signage, lighting, and façade materials will be compatible with adjacent retail stores, maintaining a cohesive aesthetic consistent with village design guidelines. 10. Location of Retail Areas The retail merchandising area will be located adjacent to the sidewalk, clearly visible from the street, and designed to invite browsing. Clinical rooms will be situated behind the retail area to ensure privacy while maintaining an active public frontage. 11. Retail Frontage and Active Use The proposed design provides a minimum of 20 feet of retail frontage and over 400 square feet of dedicated retail space. The retail area will be devoted to active merchandising of hearing-related products and will maintain typical retail hours consistent with nearby businesses Page 32 of 64 12. Parking Availability The proposed use will not significantly diminish the availability of parking for other retail patrons. Traffic generation is limited, as appointments are scheduled to manage patient flow. Available shared or on- site parking will adequately accommodate both clients and staff without affecting surrounding businesses. Page 33 of 64 From: To: Christopher Marx Subject: Re: DUET One Winnetka Date: Friday, January 23, 2026 3:26:26 PM Attachments: image002.png image003.png image004.png Outlook-A person w Outlook-Title_ Lin.png Outlook-Title_ Twi.png Outlook-Title_ goo.png IMG_3346 Frank sign color change.MOV One Winnetka DUET location.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Chris, It is a pleasure to meet you! Please see the information you requested in red. What is the sign policy for the village of Winnetka? I have attached a video of the sign we use in my Lake Forest clinic. DUET takes a science driven approach to hearing and brain health based on research from Brain Volts lab at Northwestern. We are leading the field with a paradiagm shift from "wait until it is bad enough" to preventive care now, similar to the dental model to avoid the damage hearing loss can have on the brain. I invite you or any village member to experience this new model live at our Lake Forest DUET location.   I am excited to move my Northfield clinic to One Winnetka to deliver the same preventive care model to every ear of every age in your community. We also lead a very active role in our Hearing the Call charity, refurbishing hearing aids donated by the community and fitting them on children in need around the world, refugee camps in Jordon, orphanages in Tanzania, communities in need around Chicago. Please let me know if you need anything else from me. I look forward to serving your community. All Ears! Preserving Hearing & Brain Health, Page 34 of 64  Lori A Halvorson, AuD, FAAA Preservation Audiologist Founder DUET Hearing Preservation Lake Forest Hearing Professionals Sounhaus Phone: 847-295-1185 Fax: 847-295-1165 Email: lakeforesthearing.com 267 Westminster Lake Forest, IL 60045 www.lakeforesthearing.com From: Christopher Marx <CMarx@winnetka.org> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 12:03 PM To: Dr. Lori Halvorson, Au.D. Subject: RE: DUET One Winnetka You don't often get email from cmarx@winnetka.org. Learn why this is important WARNING: This is an external email. Do not reply, click links or open attachments unless you trust the sender. Dr. Halvorson, Good morning. Thanks for providing the application materials for the special use permit application. We will need some more information to prepare the application for the February 25th meeting agenda. The Plan Commission typically expresses interest in knowing the full context of a proposed use, so Commercial Space Size Do you know the approximate square footage of the overall commercial space that would be leased? 1696 sq feet Commercial Signage and Exterior Alterations – As you might or might not be aware, signs and Page 35 of 64 any exterior alterations (on the street frontage) must seek approval through separate permits with the Design Review Board. While Plan Commission does not do a thorough review of proposed signs and sign code, they do like to know what the intended signage is for purposes of context. What does the business intend to install for signage and identification on the exterior of the storefront street façade? Please provide specifics about what signage appearance and form would entail, if possible. If that hasn’t been determined as of yet, try to be as specific as possible. If it’s, say, just a window graphic and a wall sign, then specify that. If there’s an intended logo or wordmark, that should be provided as well. If you have renderings from a sign rep, that’s even better, but provide the best that can be made available. See attached Does the business intend any other exterior alterations (new windows, exterior lighting, new doorway, etc.) besides signage? No this is a new building Employee-Client Volume and Traffic Flow How many employees would be on the premise at any one time? 3-5 How many client visits or appointments would occur on an average daily basis? Is it appointment only or are walk-ups accepted? About 8-10, Primarily appointments, occasional walk-ins Based on the typical number of employees on site at any given hour and the typical number of clients at any given hour, what would you expect the parking demand to be for any given hour? 2-4, some employees will be taking the train Retail – The Plan Commission is usually very interested in what retail component is being provided in the business, even if it serves a very secondary purpose. What sorts of retail offerings will the establishment be providing? The standards response states that the offerings will be located towards the front, but can you specify some of the items that would be sold? Hearing Protection: ear muffs for kids and adults, Head Phones for kids and adults, Therapeutic Googles, Hearing Aids and accessories, Musical Instruments: small key boards, small steel drums, metronomes. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. -Chris Christopher Marx, AICP Associate Planner Village of Winnetka – Department of Community Development Page 36 of 64 I have attached: Winnetka Commercial Overlay Application Special Use Permit Standards These documents were emailed to aklaassen@winnetka.org and sent by mail together with our check for $1200.00. Please let me know if you need anything else. Preserving Hearing & Brain Health, Lori A Halvorson, AuD, FAAA Preservation Audiologist Founder DUET Hearing Preservation Lake Forest Hearing Professionals Sounhaus Phone: 847-295-1185 Fax: 847-295-1165 Email: lakeforesthearing.com 267 Westminster Lake Forest, IL 60045 www.lakeforesthearing.com CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this email message, and any documents attached to it, is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the use of the addressee. Access to this information by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, discrimination, duplication, or distribution of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify this office, and immediately delete this message and all its attachments, if any. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this email message, and any documents attached to it, is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the use of the addressee. Access to this information by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, discrimination, duplication, or distribution of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you Page 37 of 64 DUET Preservation Audiology – Dr. Lori Halvorson, AUD, FAA founded DUET’s hearing preservation clinic, which uses a groundbreaking, scientifically proven holistic approach that considers your entire hearing system, going beyond hearing aids to preserve your hearing and brain health. Page 38 of 64  1.2 1 500 North Dearborn Street Suite 900 Chicago, Illinois 60654 312.260.7300 VESTIBULE SMART WALL DUET - WINNETKA 4 3.8 3.4 3.1 3 2.1 2 ELEC. PANELS COAT HOOKS CONCIERGE COUNTER DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY PRINTER G XFR 3'-0" IT CLOSET BEVERAGES 1'-4 3/4" MOBILE CARTS 4'-11" 3'-0" 7'-6" Project Address 4'-2 1/2" 5'-6" 723 Elm St SMART WALL CLR 4'-0" Winnetka, IL 60093 3'-0" 1'-1" 3'-0" Project Number 3'-0" 3'-1" STORAGE 25079.00 LOCKERS 9'-0" 13'-6" 7'-0" 7'-0" 23 SF CLEANING Date 1'-8" 5'-4" 8'-11 3/4" 9'-1 1/2" STATION STAFF AREA 3'-0" 10'-2" 1/15/2026 11'-3" 11'-3" 92 SF ADA CLINICAL DOCTOR MANGO ROOM Sheet Name 7'-6" RESTROOM EAR CANAL LAB & SPA AREA & SOUND BOOTH WORKSTATIONS SELF-TESTING 56 SF 8'-3 1/2" 102 SF 153 SF 79 SF 76 SF REVISED FLOOR PLAN 7'-6" SOUND BOOTH SMART WALL W/D REF Sheet Number ASK-04 © 2026 Valerio Dewalt Train Associates P.C. Page 39 of 64 ATTACHMENT B Page 40 of 64 Page 41 of 64 Page 42 of 64 Page 43 of 64 Page 44 of 64 Page 45 of 64 Page 46 of 64 Page 47 of 64 Page 48 of 64 Page 49 of 64 Page 50 of 64 Page 51 of 64 Page 52 of 64 Page 53 of 64 Page 54 of 64 Page 55 of 64 Page 56 of 64 Page 57 of 64 Page 58 of 64 Page 59 of 64 Page 60 of 64 Page 61 of 64 Page 62 of 64  ATTACHMENT C From: Kristin Kazenas To: Ann Klaassen; Scott Mangum Subject: FW: Duet Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 10:31:14 AM Hi Scott and Ann, Please see below a comment regarding the Duet application. Thank you, Kristin -----Original Message----- From: Robert Dearborn <RDearborn@winnetka.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 10:29 AM To: Maggie Meiners Art >; Kirk Albinson <KAlbinson@Winnetka.org> Cc: Kristin Kazenas <KKazenas@winnetka.org> Subject: RE: Duet Thanks Maggie. I have copied Kristin, so she is aware of your thoughts and can share with Community Development. Bob Robert H. Dearborn President – Village of Winnetka -----Original Message----- From: Maggie Meiners Art < > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 9:41 AM To: Kirk Albinson <KAlbinson@Winnetka.org>; Robert Dearborn <RDearborn@winnetka.org> Subject: Duet CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hi Bob and Kirk- I hope you are well. I just wanted to put a quick plug in for Duet, which is up for possible approval for a space in the One Winnetka building. I highly recommend them to occupy a space in this building for a couple of reasons: 1) it aligns with the population of Winnetka— health conscious, progressive, and cutting edge technology— hearing specialists, neuroscience and biohacking 2) there are not other ear to brain music therapy opportunities that have community gathering potential 3) they provide supplements that one would otherwise have to drive to Northbrook or Evanston Whole Foods for. 4) We do not have a service like this in the Village and yet, approval of Charles Schwab (with Chase AND BMO Page 63 of 64 just across the bridge) AND a plastic surgeon seems counter to “retail” space more so than Duet. 5) Duet provides educational opportunities as well Thanks for your time and service and I am sure the Council will take these into consideration when making a decision. I look forward to seeing you both soon. Maggie Page 64 of 64