St. Charles aldermen recommend approval of two large-scale residential developments

Two large-scale residential developments being proposed in St. Charles that have generated their fair share of controversy have moved another step in the approval process.

At a St. Charles City Council Planning and Development Committee meeting last month, alderpersons unanimously recommended approval of developer D.R. Horton’s plans to build 105 townhouses and 62 duplexes on 28.5 acres located northeast of Charlestowne Mall and south of Foxfield Road, known as the Oliver-Hoffman property.

Alderpersons recommended approval of the proposed Charlestowne Lakes development with the condition that no parking be allowed on King Edward Drive as a way to address traffic concerns.

Also at the April 11 meeting, they voted 5-3 to recommend approval of Wisconsin-based Continental Properties’ proposal to build 320 apartments on 27.5 acres on the north side of Smith Road at Pheasant Trail known as the Petkus property as part of the Springs at St. Charles project. Previous plans for the Springs at St. Charles project called for 340 apartments.

[ St. Charles residents continue to voice concerns about proposed five-story apartment complex ]

The property is in Wayne Township, but St. Charles can annex the property under conditions of the boundary agreement between West Chicago and St. Charles.

Voting no were 2nd Ward Alderperson Rita Payleitner, 4th Ward Alderperson David Pietryla and 4th Ward Alderperson Bryan Wirball.

Both recommendations now will go to the full City Council.

Payleitner voiced concern that the project could interfere with plans to redevelop the nearby Charlestowne Mall.

“I want to be real clear on what benefit this project will bring to our northeast corridor,” she said during the meeting. “And is that benefit enough to risk development at the mall? If it was in our city limits, it would be a whole different story. I feel protective of what is within our limits, that we need to give that priority and give that consideration more so than bringing in another project. It’s a beautiful project, but I just feel strongly we need to finish one before starting another competing project.”

That concern also had been raised by a developer who had planned to raze the majority of the largely vacant mall to make way for 560 apartments and townhouses, a hotel, new restaurants and retail along East Main Street. Those plans have been shelved after several St. Charles alderpersons and plan commissioners questioned whether the proposal was the best plan for the site.

Manny Kianicky, with S.R. Jacobson Development Corp., had voiced concerns that a similar proposal planned nearby could thwart the project.

“We were completely taken by surprise by the Springs project,” Kianicky told St. Charles plan commissioners in October. “To put that many units in one area at the same time is extremely alarming. It has the potential of basically preventing us from going ahead, to be perfectly honest with you.”

Wirball previously had said he envisioned townhouses rather than apartments being built on the property. Wirball said he was concerned about the density of the plan along with traffic issues.

“The design is very nice, but for me, I think it would help to stay a little consistent with the surrounding trend of development,” Wirball said.