Villa Olivia back on table in Elgin

Elgin's plan commission has agreed to reopen discussion of a controversial housing proposal at the Villa Olivia Country Club.

The commission tabled the matter two weeks ago but voted 4-3 Monday night to resume hearings despite pending legal issues over the property.

Its next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17.

"I think they're very close to the end," Elgin Community Development Director Jerry Deering said. "Two meetings at the most, I would think."

The development plan calls for 96 houses, 279 townhouses and maybe a restaurant, banquet hall, bank, drug store and other businesses on the golf course property.

If the planning commission signs off on the proposal, it would then go to the city council for a possible vote.

But for now, much of that land lies within the village of Bartlett, where officials say the property is protected by a special covenant requiring it stay a golf course until 2022.

So whatever happens in Elgin, officials there still would have to wait for some resolution in court before annexing the property or approving construction.

"The city could enter into an agreement," Deering said. "But it couldn't actually annex until this matter was resolved with Bartlett."

Elgin officials say there is no harm in moving forward with the proceedings, despite the unresolved legal issues.

But Elgin resident Mike Evensen said he wasn't too happy to see the Villa Olivia proposal back on the table.

Evensen lives in Elgin's Castle Creek development, and his home backs up to the golf course.

"It's not just Bartlett that's opposed to this," he said. "There is a group of homeowners in Elgin that isn't happy, not only with the development itself but also in the way in which our elected and appointed officials have handled the proceedings."