Pingree Grove gets a little bit bigger, plans retail, residential development

Pingree Grove is living up to its moniker, "A place to grow."

The village this week extended its western boundary by annexing a total of 119 acres just off Route 47.

The 95-acre parcel on the northwest corner of Route 20 and Route 47 is reserved for large-scale commercial development and 400 homes. Fifteen acres also are slated for a park to protect wetlands on the property.

Meanwhile, the 24-acre parcel at Route 20 and Thurnau Road is exclusively for retail.

"I'm just still giddy about it, actually," said Village President Clint Carey. "This is a major first step in us developing our Route 47 corridor. It'll set the tone for the rest of the developments around there."

Aside from instilling a sense of pride, the future retail corridor could also mean at least $1 million in sales tax revenue, Carey said.

Right now, only two businesses in town generate sales taxes: a gas station and a tavern.

By obtaining the larger piece of land, Pingree Grove one-upped Hampshire, its neighbor to the northwest.

Hampshire officials had begun talks about annexing the 95 acres from O&S Development, which owns the property, Hampshire Village President Jeff Magnussen said.

But the company turned to Pingree Grove once Hampshire proposed fee estimates higher than Pingree's, Magnussen said.

O&S is the same entity behind the upscale Algonquin Commons mall on Randall Road.

"They claimed it was just a business decision, it was nothing against the village of Hampshire," Magnussen said.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning must now decide which village will supply sewer and water to the two pieces of property, a process that could take nine months.

This sets up a showdown of sorts between the two towns, as each village leader has reasons his municipality should do the honors.

Carey argues that because the properties were included on Pingree Grove's comprehensive plan as far back as 2003, that gives it first dibs. He also says the village is better prepared to offer sewer and water.

"We feel we can more effectively do that," Carey said. "We're a road away."

But Magnussen counters Hampshire has the right to do it because both parcels were included in the town's facilities planning area that the planning agency drafted for the town five years ago.

"We had always planned on servicing those parcels," Magnussen said. "I guess we will be looking toward CMAP to uphold those boundaries."