157 houses planned for archdiocese land in Libertyville
What would be the largest residential development in Libertyville in at least 20 years is proposed for land east of Pine Meadow Golf Course that's owned by the Catholic Bishop of Chicago.
Village planners are reviewing information submitted by the Roanoke Group LLC of Lake Bluff for Oak Trails, a master planned community of 157 single-family houses on 40 open acres west of Butterfield Road and south of Lake Street. Roanoke has a contract to purchase the land conditioned on village approval of the development.
“We don't have any (public) hearings scheduled yet. We're doing the in-house review,” said John Spoden, the village's community development director.
The site is part of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary, which is on about 880 acres and operated for nearly a century.
Most of the seminary is in Mundelein, but options for undeveloped acres in Libertyville have been under consideration by officials for several years.
“We've actually been looking at this property for quite some time. There isn't a lot of land in any of these North Shore communities that hasn't been developed,” said Peter Kyte, principal with Roanoke.
Why now?
“After several years, the Archdiocese of Chicago found a qualified purchaser/developer and reached an acceptable agreement with them,” a spokeswoman said Monday.
As proposed, the houses would be 1,700 to 2,900 square feet. Kyte said “move down buyers” who want to remain in the community, but don't need as large a house or yard, and younger families looking to buy in a desirable community are underserved in the market.
The proposed Oak Trails is on a former nursery that provided trees planted throughout St. Mary of the Lake and later, Pine Meadow.
The nursery was abandoned about 40 years ago and the area is described as in serious decline. Another portion of the property is in agricultural use.
The plan calls for removing abandoned nursery trees considered diseased or a safety hazard and planting more than 1,000 replacements.
A stand of hardwood trees on the southeast side would be preserved and enhanced, with a park and path system envisioned.
A hint that development could occur surfaced several years ago when seminary officials said they were considering the sale of up to 100 acres in Libertyville south to Route 176 to defray the cost of maintenance and other expenses,
In late 2010, the village amended its comprehensive plan and created a new housing classification to allow for future development of 33 acres east of the golf course.
But the zoning remains for institutional use and would have to be changed for that piece and the additional acreage under consideration.
Village rules limit development on the 33 acres to 191 homes.
The proposal by Roanoke Group is the first that has been officially submitted, Spoden said.