Barrington residents leery of townhouse plan

Some Barrington residents are not embracing a proposal for townhouses that would replace a former office center off Dundee Road.

M/I Homes wants to construct the 65-unit complex on 11 acres previously used for "country offices" at The Grove. If built, the multifamily development would be at the northeast corner of Dundee and Grove Avenue near Motor Werks and the Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus. Two small parks would be part of the tentatively named Brentwood subdivision.

Barrington plan commission members held a public hearing for the proposed subdivision that drew about 25 spectators to village hall this week. The advisory panel agreed to continue the session to later this month after hearing concerns about density and appearance.

M/I executive Greg Collins said the 65 townhouses would provide a greater and more affordable housing choice in Barrington, likely appealing to older "move-down" buyers and young professionals. With a base price in the $400,000s, the units would have two or three bedrooms, a two-car garage and a full basement covering 1,584 to 2,231 square feet.

Collins said the townhouse buildings would be built in a Craftsman style that typically features exposed beams and low-pitched gabled roof.

"We don't see families at all in these communities," he said. "There's a lot better opportunities elsewhere to choose from."

M/I's presentation was followed by criticism at public comment time. Some of the concerned residents who spoke, including Helen Edwards, were from the Park Barrington subdivision just north of where M/I's project would be built.

Edwards contended the artist renderings of the townhouses shown by M/I looked like tract housing that does not fit Barrington.

"People come here because it's Barrington, otherwise they go to Arlington Heights," said Edwards, a 47-year village resident.

Resident Bill Hartman objected to what he said would be too many houses on the 11 acres.

"This is not low density," Hartman said. "This is maximum, just jam it in there. It's solid pavement, driveways, roofs and gutters, and water running all over the place when you get a heavy rain."

Plan commission members agreed with a recommendation from Chairwoman Anna Bush to continue the meeting to Tuesday, June 27. Bush said she intends to examine some Chicago-area M/I residential developments before the continued session.