While some villages have seen car dealerships vanish amid a tumulus economy, two Westmont luxury auto dealerships are actually looking to expand.
The expansion would also fill two vacant restaurant spaces along the Ogden Avenue corridor.
The Westmont Village Board heard two petitions Feb. 1 from Laurel BMW of Westmont, 430 E. Ogden Ave., and Laurel Audi of Westmont, 276 E. Ogden Ave.
Both are looking to expand into vacant facilities along Ogden.
The Audi petition was approved Feb. 1, and the BMW petition will be voted on later this month.
Laurel BMW purchased the vacant Bakers Square building at 420 W. Ogden Ave., and Laurel Audi is set to expand into the former Emmy’s restaurant property at 600 Blackhawk Drive near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Blackhawk Drive. Both dealerships are operated separately.
Village attorney John Zemenak said the current ordinance for the former Bakers Square calls for a special-use permit for the former restaurant to be used only for office space, storage and car detailing on the property, and not car washing or repairs.
If the building is torn down, Laurel BMW would have to come back before the Village Board, Zemenak said.
Patrick Womack, of Laurel BMW, said the eventual plan for the Bakers Square restaurant is to sell used, certified vehicles there in the future.
“With the decrease in new car sales last year, and we feel that it will continue into 2010, that the way to go is to increase our certified used car market,” Womack said.
Tom McCabe, of Seaton Engineering representing Laurel Audi, said the dealership purchased the old Emmy’s restaurant, and plans to raze the building to increase vehicle and storage display on the property.
The dealership came before the Village Board last year looking for a smaller addition to the property, but was able to purchase the Emmy’s property last fall, and is now asking for a bigger expansion.
“The new showroom will be larger, and a new prototype will be on the front overlooking Ogden Avenue,” McCabe said. “It gives us future room for expansion.”
When the Planning and Zoning Committee reviewed the site plan for the Audi property last month, Village Planner Shannon Malik said there were some concerns with landscaping on the property at the time, and the petitioner has asked to waive the requirement of a fence along certain areas of the property.
“We have received a new landscape and site plan now that addresses those concerns,” she said.
Mayor William Rahn said the developments will be nice additions to the car dealerships that will allow them to display, and hopefully sell more cars.
“This will bring more sales tax to the village of Westmont,” he said.
