OUR PLACE
Buona Beef.
This highly rated restaurant would like to come to Lake Geneva. This very popular restaurant in the Chicago area would like to bring its sit-down fast food and drive thru restaurant, similar to how Culvers runs, and is looking to set up shop on Edwards Boulevard. After presenting the plans to city officials concerns were stated regarding the traffic, which is already an issue at times in the area. Buona Beef was back in front of the Lake Geneva Plan Commission for a continuation of acquiring the GDP and PIP approvals for the Buona Beef and the Rainbow Cone to be located at the old Red Geranium, which sits at 393 Edwards Boulevard. The request was for a partial renovation and a partial build.
The plan commissioners at the previous meeting voiced concerns with the traffic flow and the effect a future drive thru at this location would likely have. The traffic engineer that Buona Beef consulted with went back and revisited the issues with respect to those expressed concerns. The traffic count during peak months showed high traffic and a need for traffic pattern changes. The expansion of the access points to three lanes is an option and necessary. This will provide traffic with a dedicated left turn and a dedicated right turn allowing vehicles to flow smoothly, only delaying cars for five to ten seconds turning in and out of the location. Commissioners shared concerns, however, even after the changes Buona Company offered.
Buona traffic engineers reassured that not only where the traffic counts taken into consideration but also the projection of increased traffic expected from the new business when added into the traffic study and the traffic pattern solutions to those increases. The commissioners also discussed what it would take to reduce the speed along Edwards Boulevard. The Lake Geneva Public Works department agreed that that the stretch of road has a speed problem at times, but the solution may be more of a frustration and likely public complaint. Both the city traffic engineer and the Buona traffic engineer were in agreement that this is a doable project, however. After much discussion and considerable thought, the plan commission approved the project. The plan commission recommendation does not give a stamp of approval to the Buona Company. The company will still need to submit the request and get final approval from the entire city council.
Video Lake Geneva First Day of Winter
875875875
