Buffalo Grove annexes most of Hoffman Farm for 38 homes

Buffalo Grove trustees this week approved the annexation of the Hoffmann property at 22140 N. Prairie Road.

Trustees also gave the go-ahead to develop the property into 38 houses, while also allowing the Hoffmann family to continue to use two lots for the family farm.

Among the conditions of the agreement are that "existing live poultry," consisting of 15 ducks and chickens on the farmstead are allowed to remain "for the duration of their natural lives." The fowl cannot be replaced, and no rooster is allowed.

Speaking on behalf of the developer, Mark Mastrorocco, director of land acquisition for Pulte Homes, thanked the board.

"We're very excited about bringing this exciting project to the village of Buffalo Grove, as well as continuing to collaborate with the Hoffmann family on preservation of their farmstead," he said.

He said the project still needs to go back to the village board for final engineering approval, and they are hoping break ground in late spring or early summer.

Village President Jeffrey Braiman said Buffalo Grove is looking forward to the new development.

Five generations of the family have lived on the farm since 1954.

A member of the family, Katie Mark, a landscape architect, would handle landscape improvements on the site, and continue to live in the farmhouse with her family.

Last year, the project faced a threat when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed building a large reservoir on the historic Didier Farms site, which also threatened the nearby Hoffmann property. Faced with opposition from local governments and property owners, however, the corps dropped the proposal.

Bill Hoffmann Jr. said Buffalo Grove is a great village.

"They have been very cooperative, and they're excited about this," he said. "It's just a wonderful thing."