Palatine Neighbors Protest Against Plan For New Starbucks
PALATINE, Ill. (CBS) -- The Palatine Village Council has reversed itself, ordering another look at a plan to allow a Starbucks on Northwest Highway after residents voiced opposition.
As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, one Palatine resident at the meeting said there are two key words – "shop local," as reported by the Daily Herald.
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Another said Palatine should embrace diversity and not become a franchise town, the newspaper reported.
The neighbors are throwing their support behind a local coffee shop, Norma's Coffee Corner at 189 W. Northwest Highway, which they fear will be forced out of business if Starbucks come in, the Daily Herald reported.
The Daily Herald reports others speaking in opposition to the Starbucks do not believe a study that found traffic flow would not be adversely affected.
A representative of the owner of the property said the site at Northwest Highway near Smith Road, on the next block from Norma's, is very viable for a coffee shop. He says if a Starbucks goes in, a Dunkin' Donuts will, the newspaper reported.
The Palatine Zoning Board of Appeals approved the Starbucks project last month, despite concerns about the traffic problems. The Starbucks would be in a new strip mall between a Harris Bank and a McDonald's, with Charley's Grilled Subs as the other tenant, Patch.com reported.
Norma's Coffee Corner owner Norma Hipchen has been passing out fliers that detail concerns about the Starbucks project, Patch reported. She tells the publication at one time her coffee shop was one of at least three independents in Palatine, but the others have closed.
Palatine already has three Starbucks locations – at 1590 N. Rand Rd., in the Metra Station at 137 W. Wood St., and inside the Target store at 679 E. Dundee Rd.
