Geneva postpones vote on townhouse plan

A vote on a plan to build 30 townhouses at Route 31 and Stevens Street in Geneva was tabled Monday, so the developer and city workers can consider suggestions posed by aldermen.

The Park Place development would raze seven houses on a block bounded by Route 31, Stevens, Second Street and North Street.

Several aldermen said they were concerned about the height and size of the buildings, and how far they are set back from lot lines. Alderman Charles Brown was also concerned about having an entrance on Stevens, which is a designated truck route. Brown said trucks already have trouble making the turn from Route 31 on to Stevens, and sometimes oncoming traffic on Stevens has to back up to make room for the trucks.

Portions of the buildings could be as close as 10 feet to the sidewalk, if the council allows the plan to vary from zoning codes.

And some residents said that the proposal doesn't fit well with the neighborhood. It abuts the historic district. Several said they agree with the idea of having multifamily housing along the Route 31 frontage, but not the entire block.

Impact fees

Mark Grosso, president of the Geneva school board, and Sheavoun Lambillotte, executive director of the Geneva Park District, spoke against a request to reduce the amount of impact fees the developer would have to pay the districts.

The development company is asking to pay the fees based on a net increase of 21 housing units. A representative said the current houses already generate at least $32,000 a year in property taxes for the school district, but that there aren't any children in them attending schools.

Lambillotte argued the design does not provide individual, private yard spaces for the units, and so residents would be more likely to use nearby Wheeler Park for dog walking, barbecues or outdoor play.

The representative said that the townhouses, which he intends to sell for about $460,000 apiece, would likely be occupied by young professionals or empty-nesters, and so play space isn't needed and they likely would not be heavy users of park district services.

Alderman Tom Simonian agreed with the developer on the impact fee credit.

"It's (getting the full fee) taking more bites at the apple then should be allowed," Simonian said.