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St. Charles Plan Commission members heard plans for a proposed commercial development near Charlestowne Mall on the city’s east side at their June 4 meeting.
The proposed development, known as Fox Haven Square, would be constructed on the vacant 7.5-acre lot near the northeast corner of Kirk Road and Route 64, just west of the Charlestowne Mall, between Jewel-Osco and the existing bank and former On The Border buildings.
Plans call for four buildings around a central plaza that would house a mix of restaurants, retail and entertainment, including an indoor pickleball complex.
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The three buildings on the east side of the lot would be a mix of restaurants and commercial space, each between 1,400 square feet and 2,600 square feet, surrounding an outdoor dining and community plaza and valet drop-off area. The fourth building would be a 20,000 square feet, two-story indoor pickleball facility and restaurant on the southwest side of the lot.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to expand the downtown area of St. Charles into this wonderful destination retail/restaurant complex that we’ve designed.”
— Jason Golub, representative with Ware Malcomb
A 434-space parking lot would be constructed on the west side of the lot along Kirk Road, which would be shared with the surrounding businesses. Sidewalks would also be constructed along Kirk Road.
The development would be accessed from existing driveways off Route 64 from the south and off Kirk Road from the west. The existing north-south access drive from Route 64 to Jewel-Osco would be maintained and a new east-west access drive connecting Kirk Road to the Charlestowne Mall site would be constructed.
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A public hearing was held at the June 4 meeting, where petitioners presented their plans, fielded questions from commission members and comments from the public. Commission members engaged in over an hour of discussion and raised several questions and concerns to the petitioners.
Petitioners Jason Golub and Jon Grzywa, architect and civil engineer with Ware Malcomb, gave a presentation during the public hearing on behalf of Bartlett based developer Greco Investment Management LLC.
Greco also owns the Pheasant Run industrial park, Royal Fox Country Club and several other industrial, retail and office buildings in the Fox Valley area. Gryzwa said the Greco team is also in the process of acquiring the Jewel-Osco building to the north of the development.
Petitioners told commission members that they are aiming to bring in notable Chicago based restaurants Parlor Pizza Bar and Hampton Social as well as a Mexican restaurant and a Burger Local.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to expand the downtown area of St. Charles into this wonderful destination retail/restaurant complex that we’ve designed,” Golub said.
Petitioners said they are hoping to have the first businesses operating in Fox Haven Square by September 2025.
Commission members raised concerns to the pickleball facility’s metal siding and landscaping plans which do not meet zoning requirements. Other concerns included the impacts to traffic and parking.
Plan Commission members recommended approval of the preliminary plans in an unanimous vote, subject to changes based on staff comments. The proposal is expected to go before the Planning and Development Committee at their next meeting on June 10.