St. Charles aldermen review redevelopment plans for former Pheasant Run Mega Center

St. Charles aldermen are pleased so far with McGrath Honda of St. Charles’ plans for the former Pheasant Run Mega Center.

At the St. Charles City Council Planning and Development Committee meeting on Jan. 11, aldermen reviewed concept plans for the McGrath Commerce Center. McGrath plans to formally submit plans at a later date.

The St. Charles City Council last year approved a $5.2 million incentive so McGrath Honda of St. Charles can expand and relocate to the site. Pheasant Run Resort closed its doors last March following a failed attempt to auction off the resort.

It had first opened in February 1963 and was annexed by the city in 1965. The final bid to purchase the resort was $6 million, which did not meet the minimum selling price established by the seller. The auction did not include the sale of the Mega Center or a 18-hole golf course.

Gary McGrath, the president and owner of McGrath Honda of St. Charles, currently located at 1411 E. Main St., plans to turn the western portion of the 12-acre site into a 50,000-plus square foot dealership and service facility that will use 500 of the 800 available parking spaces.

McGrath Honda also has a contract to purchase approximately eight acres just east of the site from the DuPage Airport Authority. Plans call for three auto dealerships and/or other commercial uses to be developed on the property.

Immediately south of the land is the remainder of what was the Pheasant Run golf course, which was purchased a few years ago by the DuPage Airport Authority through eminent domain.

“We think it will be an industrial development,” Peter Bazos, attorney for McGrath, told aldermen. “I think you can expect that someone will be approaching you fairly quickly about subdividing and developing the site.”

A 20 foot monument sign is being proposed for the project. The sign, which would include an electronic message board, is supposed to be no more than 15 feet in height per the city’s rules.

“It’s very important that a car dealer have an electronic message board,” Bazos said. “It notifies the public about special financing, special deals, zero percent interest. “The idea for both the city and Mr. McGrath is that you’re both kind of partners in this regard. You want to see Mr. McGrath sell as many cars as he can, because that is certainly good for the sales tax revenues of the city and it’s obviously good for him.”

To accommodate his customers who are dog owners, two dog parks are included in the project.

“More of our customers are bringing in their pets,” McGrath said.

First Ward Alderman Ron Silkaitis liked the concept plans, but thought the sign was too tall.

“We take down signs and put them to our required height, and I just have trouble now saying we’re going to increase it for a new business,” he said. “That’s my only concern with this project.”

Fifth Ward Alderman Maureen Lewis agreed.

“I like the whole concept, but I’d have to think about that sign,” Lewis said. “I wouldn’t say definitely no, but that was my point too. We have insisted that other businesses lower their sign. Although it’s only five feet, maybe there’s something else you can think about so that you can still meet the criteria of our signs.”

However, 4th Ward Alderman Lora Vitek said she was not opposed to the height of the proposed sign, saying it was appropriate for the size of the property.

“I know that the electronic signs are a way to tell the story and I’m sure you can possibly utilize that for some messaging around St. Charles and entering the gateway,” she said. “I think it looks great.”

First Ward Alderman Dan Stellato said he doesn’t think the size of the sign should prevent the project from moving forward.

“I think it’s a great use,” he said. “I’ve been supportive of it from the very beginning.”

Fourth Ward Alderman David Pietryla said the sign’s size wasn’t a deal breaker.

“It’s a good project,” he said. “I’m in favor of it.”

McGrath said isn’t committed to having a 20 foot sign.

“If I went back to the 15 foot sign, I’d probably get rid of the digital board, because it just puts it too low to the ground,” he said. “It’s almost unusable, from our standpoint. But maybe a happy medium or middle of the road approach might be that you limit me to one message every 30 seconds and I’ll alternate ‘Welcome to St. Charles’ or whatever your choice of message is in between my message. It’s just a thought. I’d be willing to worth with you on that. I’m always about participating in the community as much as I can.”