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No resolution, no bills paid, developer tells Elburn

Shodeen Construction has no problem paying for the advisers Elburn hired for the proposed Elburn Station development.

The company does, however, have a problem with continuing to pay those bills when the consultants have ideas that conflict with those of the developer and village staff - and nobody seems willing to resolve the matter.

Shodeen Construction President Dave Patzelt told the Elburn village board Monday that the firm has paid $110,000 in bills, but won't pay any more until a village representative makes some decisions on issues raised by the civil engineering and land planning advisers.

Patzelt cited bike lanes as an example - village administrators want them and Shodeen wants them, but the village-hired experts are recommending against them, he said.

Patzelt said the list of unresolved issues took up several pages, and the consultants did not provide enough detail in explaining their positions.

"Until we get some direction from the staff or from anyone, we're not going anywhere," Patzelt said.

In 2008, the village board approved the concept of a mixed-use development on the east edge of town, north and south of the Metra rail station. When finished, the development would add more than 3,000 housing units to the village, as well as several stores. Village officials hope it will be a "transit-oriented" development, encouraging residents to use Metra. Final plans have not been presented. The village hired advisers to review technical details of the plans - such as stormwater handling or traffic flow - a common practice for suburban governments that do not have engineers and other experts on staff.

Village President Dave Anderson assured Patzelt Monday the village wants to work things out, but said it would take some time for trustees to read through the several binders of materials. Village Administrator Erin Willrett suggested the board give village staff members, including her, the "go-ahead" to settle some of the issues.

Trustee Patricia Romke asked when the developer would like to start building the project.

Patzelt said Shodeen's nearby Mill Creek development, east of Elburn and west of Geneva, is "running out of inventory," and "if we want to stay in this corridor, Elburn is our next move. We would like to plunge forward as quickly as we can." Mill Creek is more than 90 percent built out, he said.

After the meeting, Patzelt said Shodeen's goal is to have a final plan for Elburn Station approved within the next year.