Locals sound off on plans for growth

Not in their backyards: That's the message more than 50 residents tried to deliver to Wauconda on Wednesday night at a meeting of the zoning board and planning commission.

Angry residents who live near a proposed development on almost 11 acres on Route 176 and Sky Hill Road in Wauconda lined up to tell officials they didn't like the idea of including commercial uses on the property.

Dave Zipprich, who lives on Delia Road, said his major concern was traffic.

"We can't get out to go to work and we can't get in to come home," Zipprich said. It's horrifying already."

Commissioner Matthew Kirland said the commercial part of the plan was tiny.

"I appreciate everybody's passion for this," he said. "We're talking about two smaller buildings ... about 7,500 square feet combined."

Commissioners and Bill Metes, director of building, zoning and economic development, said he appreciated residents weighing in over the plan, which would include two, 1-story commercial buildings and 37 residential townhouses by developer Castle MDP.

"This is the first time in five years that I've been a village employee that I've seen this," Metes said of the huge turnout. "It makes me feel good."

Taking questions for hours, commissioners had not voted on making a recommendation to the village board late Wednesday night. But they did ask Castle representatives about their plan, specifically efforts to address residents' traffic concerns.

Commissioner Frank Lahrman said the traffic study, which sought to determine patterns during rush hours, looked at afternoon hours from 4 to 6:30 p.m., in addition to morning rush hours.

"I go through there at 3:30 and 3 o'clock and they're already lining up to go west," Lahrman said. "I, myself, don't think that's nearly long enough."