Home building spurt in Hawthorn Woods continues with preliminary approval of Stonebridge subdivision
After some key adjustments, a home building spurt in Hawthorn Woods will continue with the preliminary approval of the Stonebridge development off Old McHenry Road near Spencer Loomis Elementary School and Middle School North.
The village board voted 5-0 Tuesday, with one trustee voting "present," in favor of preliminary approvals for the 60-home subdivision by William Ryan Homes. In review for 10 months, the proposal had been met with concern from some residents in Acorn Acres subdivision to the south regarding flooding issues and potential cut-through traffic.
But modifications in the plan resulted in features village officials say will alleviate some current flooding issues there and allow children from the new and existing subdivisions to walk to the school buildings on a dedicated path.
The plan calls for homes ranging in size from about 2,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet, with a sales price in the $500,000 to $600,000 range.
Stonebridge is the third development in town either approved or in the review process. Pulte Home Corp. has been approved, with the first building permit issued Thursday for a 221-home subdivision at Midlothian and Gilmer roads. Also, Orleans Homebuilders Inc. has begun the review process for the 28-home Stonewood Glen on Old McHenry Road south of Stonebridge.
Village Planning Manager Michael Cassata said there were lengthy discussions regarding Stonebridge at the planning, building and zoning commission.
"It took three meetings," he said. "There was a lot of public comment and a lot of discussion."
Making the connection between the subdivisions at Bruce Circle North a single-lane for emergency use eliminated a big concern, Trustee Peter Ponzio said.
"Making that emergency access only was a big deal to the Acorn Acres residents," Ponzio said.
A natural feature also was a winner as adjustments will spare three oak trees that are more than 200 years old on the southeast part of the property.
"They moved three lots back to give the roots of those trees extra space to grow and put in place a conservancy easement so that those trees cannot be tampered with in the future," Ponzio said.
The commission's approval came with several conditions, including one that all residential lots will be a minimum quarter acre in size and enhanced treatments such as masonry or window trim will be included on all homes adjacent to and/or facing Acorn Acres.
As part of the process, William Ryan agreed to several other items, including planting more trees in a proposed 30-foot conservation easement behind Lots 2 to 5.
The main entrance will be off Old McHenry Road to an extended Hubbard Lane, which serves the schools. Ryan homes has said it would pay to improve the road and take over its control, relieving Lake Zurich Unit District 95 of maintenance, repair and snow plowing.
Stonebridge was approved as a planned unit development, which "allows for more flexibility," such as clustering of homes as the 59-acre property is about half open space. Two parks are part of the development.
The matter will return to plan commission and ultimately the village board for final approval.