Arlington Market gets change to already-approved plan

Arlington Market's developers were back in front of the village board this week -- only this time there wasn't a crowd of angry residents behind them.

Although the project was approved more than a year ago, developers asked for another setback change on Monday. The change was to add about 8 feet of space to the backyards of about 12 single-family homes along Dryden Avenue. To do this, the homes' front yard setback had to he changed from 25 feet to 16½ feet.

Village planners were against the change. But the village board voted in favor of it after Arlington Market developers said the whole project was in danger. Without the change, the homes along Dryden would have such small backyards that they would be difficult -- maybe impossible -- to sell, they said.

"This was an oversight," said Nick Peppers, the attorney for the developer, Michael Elliott of Elliott & Associates in Des Plaines. "This project has seen 42 different site plans, with more coming."

The Arlington Market plan was first proposed in 2003 and went though countless changes during the planning process, Peppers said.

Trustee Tom Stengren said the new plans looked fine to him.

"I like the site lines, the green space, and I don't see why we wouldn't approve it," Stengren said. "I think it looks good."

Other trustees said they were worried about whether people knew of the request because Monday's board meeting was quiet.

When the Arlington Market plan was approved in August 2006, more than 100 residents attended the meeting, which lasted until midnight.

"I thought there would be more people here given the contentious nature of the public hearing," said Trustee Tom Hayes. "I trust all the residents were told and that word got out."

Property owners within 250 feet from the site were notified and there was a sign on the property announcing Monday's meeting, Peppers said. There was also a legal notice in the Daily Herald, he said.

"In total, I fielded two phone calls from people," he said. "And they just wanted to know what was going on."

Only Trustee Joe Farwell voted against the change.

"I want to send a message to other developers that this isn't OK," he said.

The Arlington Market development is under construction. It will feature 110 condominiums, 54 townhouses and 42,000 square feet of retail space at the northwest corner of Dryden Place and Kensington Road.

For the retail portion, Elliott has re-signed leases with Eros Restaurant, Subway Restaurant, Signature Cleaners and Ben Franklin Bank, which are on the site, along with a 7,500-square-foot grocery store.

Ace Hardware will not be a part of Arlington Market and has already closed.