Elgin City Council vote expected on Remington Fields

The Elgin City Council on Wednesday is scheduled to vote on a new subdivision on the city's west side.

But residents who live near the proposed Remington Fields subdivision say the development would increase traffic and safety concerns in the neighborhood.

As proposed, the developer would build 186 single-family homes on nearly 94 acres along Russell Road.

City officials planned to connect the streets in the subdivision with an adjacent development in unincorporated Kane County -- which would provide more emergency access.

But residents of that unincorporated area objected, citing safety concerns, and city officials are now talking about putting up a gate between the properties that could only be accessed by emergency vehicles.

"I think that would address the issue of safety," council member Juan Figueroa said.

But council member David Kaptain said he wants to hear more about how residents' concerns have been handled before making any decision.

"I need to get some clarification from the people involved," Kaptain said. "I want to make sure residents have been treated fairly, been given an opportunity to voice their concerns. I have reason to believe that may not be the case."

Kaptain also said the development is premature -- and if it moves forward, he would like to see the developer foot the bill for city operations on the property.

"This is a classic example of a leapfrog development," he said. "The property to the south should have been developed first.

"It's not fair to the taxpayers and the city to operate a pump station on the site," Kaptain said. "The developer should pay 100 percent of the operations and maintenance."

The city council is scheduled to vote on the proposal at their 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday at city hall, 150 Dexter Court.