East Dundee settles suit with Par Development

Par Development and East Dundee reached a settlement Thursday on plans for a subdivision just north of the village's busiest intersection.

The agreement spells out the number of homes Par will build on a lot in the River Haven subdivision, along the northern edge of the recently created tax-increment finance district along Route 25, north of Route 72.

The plan now calls for 110 homes and three commercial lots on the property.

Par filed a lawsuit in August against the village. Par had proposed a subdivision with 130 homes.

The board said that was too many and the number did not match up with the village's comprehensive plan. The village said the comprehensive plan called for 81 homes and even increasing the number to 110 was a concession to Par.

The agreement reached Thursday, however, put that all in the past, said village president Dan O'Leary.

"Par's doing a good job of working with the board," he said. "They've done an excellent job. It would be an understatement to say it was a pretty negotiation."

A fountain and small retention pond will be placed on Route 25. As part of the agreement, the village will also retain ownership of a 1.25-acre lot and a 35,000-square-foot open space behind the River Valley Square Shopping Center.

"It's a strategic purchase for future development," O'Leary said.

He said the lot will help the village spur development in the shopping center if the struggling strip mall makes a comeback.

The village created a TIF district in September for the area and includes properties on all four corners of the intersection.

A public hearing on the agreement will not be held as the agreement is "consistent with what was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission last summer," O'Leary said in a letter sent to area residents. But he also encouraged residents to contact a trustee before Monday's board meeting. The board is expected to approve the plan at the meeting after a brief review.