The controversial Spring Green development at Naper Boulevard and Hobson Road in Naperville hit another snag Wednesday, after the city’s Plan Commission decided that plans for storm-water detention do not meet the city’s new requirements.
Plans for the development call for 11 homes and a 12,000-square-foot office building on 5.4 acres. More than a year ago, the City Council approved a preliminary planned unit development and annexation agreement for the site.
Residents have since fought the project, saying they do not want a commercial building on the north side of Hobson Road.
Bruce Trego, director of the city’s Department of Community Development, recommended approval be denied for the final engineering plans because they do not meet the newly revised requirements for the depth and slope of retention basins. The City Council approved changes to the design of storm-water detention basins late last year. The proposed Spring Green detention basin is too deep and steep to meet the current requirements, Trego told commissioners.
The annexation agreement requires the developer to comply with storm-water management regulations, and this requirement was spelled out in a special section of the agreement, according to Tom Thanas, city attorney.
“This annexation agreement gave extra attention to the need for storm-water management at this site,” said Thanas.
Attorney Mike Van Poucke, representing the developer, Richard Marker, argued that the final plans should be approved because they were already given preliminary approval by council members last year.
The Plan Commission agreed with the staff’s recommendation and voted 7-0 to deny recommendation of the final plans to the City Council.
The city and the developer also disagree over a rule that requires action on final plats of subdivision within 60 days of all final documents being submitted.
“It’s the city’s position that the developer has not submitted all the documents,” Thanas said.
To avoid legal issues related to the rule, the City Council plans to review the Spring Green development next week before the 60-day window expires.
