Kane County quashes Valley View development

The Kane County Board on Tuesday narrowly shot down a zoning change needed for a 16-house development proposed in the Valley View area of St. Charles Township.

The 13-12 decision came after four residents voiced opposition to the plan, which was supported by county planners and praised by one board member as "the type of growth we're encouraging."

In the end, too few board members agreed the estate-style homes on 8.4 acres along May Lane and Route 25 would be good for the county.

"Every additional rooftop that goes in creates a burden on the school district and a burden on every taxpayer," said John Hoscheit, a St. Charles Republican who voted against the change.

Developers had asked the county to change zoning on the land from farming use to a planned unit development.

Kane County's 2030 land use plan outlines zoning for rural residential use, although part of the land already is designated for office building use, officials said.

Under a preliminary plan, the development would have included 16 houses valued around $500,000 each, as well as extensive landscaping and buffer zones. It would have received water from a municipal supply instead of wells and septic systems.

"We're excited about a project like this," said Catherine Hurlbut, an Elgin Republican who is chairwoman of the County Development Committee. "This is actually the type of growth we're encouraging."

Hurlbut and others said the subdivision would have created a smooth transition between property values in nearby neighborhoods. It was supported by the nearby village of Wayne, officials said.

Opponents, however, feared the project would drive up valuations of surrounding homes and, subsequently, their property taxes.

They also questioned whether existing roads, schools and infrastructure would support the plan.

"This PUD (planned unit development) doesn't fit the neighborhood," said Chuck Ingersoll, president of the East Side Homeowners Association.