Developer appeals denial of Cary affordable housing project
The developer of a proposed affordable housing project in Cary is appealing an official determination that its plans don't meet village code.
The Cary village board last year approved Pedcor Investments' $18 million, 60-unit apartment complex targeted for a 4.5-acre lot at the northeast corner of First and Pearl streets. The project required the property's rezoning, a conditional use permit and other variances, which also were approved last year.
Original plans showed 56 percent of the site would be open, with the remaining lot covered by impervious construction, such as buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, pool and patio. But the developer actually is projecting roughly 55 percent of the site would be covered by development.
Because the property was rezoned from manufacturing to multifamily district, the developer must comply with new requirements that sets a maximum for lot coverage at 45 percent, village officials say.
As a compromise, Pedcor proposed using permeable asphalt to meet village ordinance requirements on lot coverage, which the village staff recommended denial.
As a result, the village zoning, planning and appeals board last month denied granting another variance for the project after dozens of residents complained.
"They didn't really change anything when they went for the variance," said Trustee Jim Cosler, who led the resident opposition to the project last year before being elected to the village board as a write-in candidate in April. "Pedcor was given the opportunity to come in line with our ordinance."
Cosler said Pedcor is seeking the largest increase in lot coverage in the R3 zoning.
The developer now is protesting the village's determination that the project doesn't meet village code. The zoning board will hear Pedcor's appeal at its Oct. 22 meeting.
"All of our ordinances were followed and also the Illinois statutes pertaining to zoning were followed," Cosler said. "What they are asking for is outside the normal business practice and normal zoning allowances."
A final vote by the village board on the variance request, previously scheduled for Oct. 20, is now on hold. A two-thirds vote of trustees - four votes - is required to overturn the zoning board's recommendation.