Palatine approves new 13-home subdivision

Work to build a new subdivision called Dunhaven Ridge in Palatine will begin as soon as warm weather returns.

The village council on Monday night approved the construction of 13 semi-custom homes that the builder says will range in value from $600,000 to $800,000. The homes will be located on the north side of town, just east of North Quentin Road between West Rosalind Drive and West Ruhl Road in an area that is heavily forested.

Jim Chittaro, who owns the land, said the beauty of the area is one of the reasons he wanted to build there.

"It's a beautiful setting," said Chittaro, who owns J. Lawrence Holdings. "It's called Dunhaven Ridge because of the sloping of the topography."

The plan calls for nine of the subdivision's homes to be built on a new cul-de-sac which will be accessible from West Ruhl Road and the other four homes will be built off West Rosalind Drive.

The village council voted 5-1 in favor of the plan, with Councilman Tim Millar casting the dissenting vote. Millar said that while he won't hold a grudge against anybody who wants to maximize the return on his property, he thought the vacant land there was an asset for the surrounding homes.

"I think it really is the signature for that area," Millar said after the meeting. "When you think of that area, you think of that piece of property. It adds a lot of value to that subdivision."

Bill Flemming, who will be marketing the subdivision through his company, HomeSmart Connect Real Estate, said the new homes will complement the area and will add value to the surrounding homes.

Chittaro said he bought the land within the last six months, and the previous owner also had been considering building homes on the land.