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Torco property proposal raising eyebrows near East Dundee

A banquet facility and indoor sports complex soon could come to a stretch of Route 25 near East Dundee.

But at least two people don’t want it in their neighborhood and question whether the project will destroy the country living to which they’ve grown accustomed.

Jim Nagle owns what’s known locally as the Torco property, which is in the process of being annexed by East Dundee. The building that once housed the Torco Cadillac dealership still remains.

If the project is approved, Nagle would turn it into a banquet hall then construct a separate building to house flag football and soccer games. He said he has not yet determined the businesses’ hours of operation. He could not be reached for further comment on his plans.

But in a preliminary annexation agreement, Nagle asks permission to allow off-track betting and indoor auto repair and servicing on the site, as well. If East Dundee ever lifts its ban on video gambling, Nagle also would bring it to his venue.

Those plans have left some of the property’s neighbors uneasy.

The back of Nagle’s property lies across the street from a portion of the Fox River Bluffs neighborhood, a community of 80 homes situated in land set aside for wildlife preservation, where it’s not unusual to find deer roaming backyards.

Robert Luebke lived in Fox River Bluffs from his birth in 1957 until the 1990s, and he reared two children there. At one time, his family owned five homes in the neighborhood, and he currently owns a house across the street from Nagle’s proposed project. He hopes to retire there within the next five years.

John Arnold lives next door to the Luebke property, with his wife and twin 2-year-old sons.

Both worry that Nagle’s proposed venture would bring increased traffic, noise and lighting to their doorsteps. And if his plans fail, they’d rather not be stuck with abandoned buildings across the street.

“People like to stay in the area because it’s nice,” Luebke said. “We’re just fighting to keep our little quiet community there.”

They also are concerned about Nagle’s ability to be a good neighbor.

Kane County Sheriff’s deputies, with an assist from East Dundee police, discovered an unauthorized party on the site March 18 when responded to a fight in progress, sheriff’s Lt. Pat Gengler said. Deputies sent everyone home without making arrests.

“There was no occupancy permit for that building,” Gengler said, adding that the lack of permit meant the party was over.

For East Dundee though, the development could mean serious money.

Once the property becomes part of East Dundee and Nagle gets his ventures going, the village would collect a 5 percent amusement tax on admission charges and an 8.5 percent sales tax on everything else.

“Anything they collect as far as selling of food or if they’re going to be having alcohol sales ... are all subject to local sales tax,” interim Village Administrator Bob Skurla said, adding that there was talk of Nagle hosting indoor rodeos at the venue.

The Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation owns property between Torco and the village limits. Once its annexation into East Dundee goes through, the village will proceed with securing the Torco land, Skurla said.

  The owner of a Torco property along Route 25 is planning to redevelop the site once the land is annexed by the village of East Dundee. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com