Elgin officials reject Villa Olivia proposal

Elgin planning commission members Monday night voted against a proposed development at the Villa Olivia Country Club.

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

The commission voted 5-2 to reject the housing component of the plan, and 4-3 against the commercial development.

The city council will now have a final say on the plan, which has drawn criticism from neighbors and village of Bartlett officials because of a pending legal dispute over the property.

Bartlett officials rejected an almost identical proposal two years ago.

In response, the landowners' corporate entity, VO-Land LLC, sued in August 2005, seeking to disconnect the property from Bartlett and remove a covenant requiring the property stay a golf course until 2022.

The case is pending in Cook County circuit court.

If the case is resolved, the planning commission may reconsider the proposal, said Tom Armstrong, Elgin's principle planner.

But the commission's decision was not about the court case, Armstrong said.

"I'm sure they would look at it again," he said. "I don't know if the same project came back there would be enough votes. I just think they weren't enamored with the project."