The Winfield Plan Commission set public hearings for two single-family home developments. including one that was part of a controversial disannexation bill proposed Jan. 8 by State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell.
Niemeyer couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday.
The commission on Thursday set a March 19 public hearing for LBL Development, LLC development manager Steve Kil.
Kil’s company is seeking a zone change from AG (agriculture) to PDM (planned development for mixed use) for 400 acres in the southwest portion of Winfield, roughly south of 121st Avenue, west of Gibson Street, and southwest of the new Taft Middle School.
Plans by LBL are to include 407 residential lots and 19 industrial lots on the property to be called Gates of Winfield, Kil said.
The residential lots would be located on 129th Avenue and the industrial lots off of 121st Avenue.
The property sparked controversy in mid-January, following Niemeyer’s Jan. 8 proposed but never presented bill, with Winfield officials posting a message on the town’s Facebook page challenging it and asking residents to contact Niemeyer’s office to voice their concerns.
The Winfield Town Council at the time called the legislation a “perversion of the entire concept of home rule.”
The message, posted mid-January, on the town of Winfield’s Facebook page read in part:
“The Winfield Town Council expresses serious concerns about efforts by Niemeyer to strip 400 acres of land out of Winfield so that a local developer can advance a plan to add 4,000 homes to the Winfield area without having to adhere to local planning guidance, rules, ordinances, and the normal process for controlled, responsible development,” the release said. “Senate Bill 274, legislation drafted by Senator Niemeyer but not yet proposed, is intended to strip 400 acres of land from Winfield via deannexation to bypass our processes and avoid the usual steps of public hearings, public comment, and negotiation with the town of Winfield, which is charged to protect the interests of its residents.
Kil told planners on Thursday he wanted to proceed with the proposed Gates of Winfield, seeking a zone change request only, then a primary plat approval later, with engineering costs playing a major part.
He said his development company is aware of the many challenges of the property, including drainage, since part of it is in a major flood plain.
“We know there’s a lot to do there. It’s a difficult process,” Kil said, adding,” We don’t want to proceed until we get approval for the zone change.”
Plan Commission president Jon Derwinski told Kil what he was proposing was “a little unorthodox,” with most developers requesting the zone change and primary plat approval at the same time.
Derwinski referred to a TAC or Technical Advisory Committee meeting with Kil and Chris Salatas held on Sept. 30, during which major concerns were brought up in regard to the project.
Many of those concerns weren’t addressed, including necessary feedback from the Lake County Drainage Board.
Those major concerns include no renderings and no reports on such things as the condition of 129th Avenue and the bridge in the proposed location.
“It is unorthodox, but if you want to push this forward, we are more than willing,” Derwinski said.
In other business, the plan commission also set a March 19 public hearing for a zone change from AG (agriculture) to PDR (planned development residential) for Todd Kleven, who serves as director of land acquisition for Lennar Corp., based in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Kleven’s presentation was for a 146-lot subdivision to be named Heron Landing.
The development is located at the northwest corner of 117th Avenue and Gibson Street on 81 acres.
The high-end houses would be 2,900 square feet with an average cost of $500,000.
Most of the homes would feature a three-car garage, Kleven said.
Kleven said his company, which is developing the Aylesworth subdivision off of 109th Avenue, will continue to be a good partner with the town, with an initial contribution of $300,000, then up to $450,000 going toward the construction of a roundabout.
He said if plans are approved, developers would be moving forward as soon as the weather allows.
Plan Commission member David Anderson praised plans brought forward this time around after a previous no vote last year by planners.
“You’ve brought something unique; nothing but good things…You have given us something new. Great job,” Anderson said.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
