Developer to cut down trees in Arlington Heights for 13 luxury homes
A project that will bring 13 new luxury homes to Arlington Heights is moving forward.
The project — Christina Court, a proposed street off East Olive Street between Rand Road and Dryden Avenue — received preliminary approval from the village board on Monday night.
Jon Isherwood of K. Hovnanian, the builder developing the project, said the company has been working with Arlington Heights village staff members on the project for nearly a year.
The proposed homes would each be on lots that average a quarter of an acre and would be priced starting around $850,000, Isherwood said.
The project upset some nearby residents who were concerned that all 1,070 trees on the 5-acre site will be cut down to develop the property. Developers said they plan to add 104 high-quality trees back to the site, which has been abandoned for years, leading to overgrowth of small or undesirable trees.
Of the more than 1,000 trees on the site, only 20 high-quality trees exist in areas not affected by the new street or homes to be built, but they would still need to be moved so the developer can regrade the entire site, officials said.
“It would be impossible to develop the property without removing a significant amount of trees,” said Charles Perkins, director of planning and community development.
Trustees also discussed the large detention pond that is being built on the site.
Trustee Jim Tinaglia said he would have preferred to see an underground water retention system so that the larger pond doesn't become an attraction for mosquitoes.
Others were concerned about the ongoing maintenance costs of the detention pond for the village. A similar development's detention area costs the village $6,000 to $8,000 each year to maintain, Perkins said.
Between Monday night's meeting and final approval on the project, developers and the village staff will work on a project to help pay for some of those maintenance costs.
Developers said the homes on Christina Court should be completed in mid-2017.