Development proposal not well-received in Lily Lake

Lily Lake residents voiced strong opposition Tuesday to a proposed, 276-acre development along Route 47 and Empire Road.

The criticism came during a public hearing attended by nearly 100 residents, who spent two hours expressing concern over the potential impact on traffic, schools, water and future development.

"If we don't stop this now," resident Mark Hwalisz said, "where's it going to lead?"

Developers want to build about 225 houses on 230 acres along the east side of Route 47, south of the village limits, and put additional residential and commercial units on 46 acres northeast of the highway's intersection with Empire Road.

To proceed, the development requires an annexation agreement signed by village officials, who have said the plan could provide a badly needed source of tax revenue for the rural community.

A final decision was expected Tuesday to be postponed to a later date, as yet undecided, officials said.

Randy Conaway, a landowner working on the development, described the project as environmentally friendly and self-sustaining in terms of drinkable water and roadway infrastructure.

About 40 percent of the land would remain open space, he said, and developers would donate $1.6 million to local schools.

As for the commercial component, Conaway compared it to Third Street in Geneva, with traditional neighborhood establishments such as a bakery, day care center, dry cleaner and veterinarian, among others.

"This is a tax base for this community forever," he told the audience. "We need to capture that because they (businesses) can go down the street to Elburn or up the street to Pingree Grove."

Kathy Metcalf, vice president of a local consulting business on Empire Road, said she worries about how the development could affect traffic near her children's school.

She responded to a comment Conaway made about sustaining the village's financial future, saying, "I'm more interested in sustaining the life of my children."

Todd Stirn, assistant superintendent of Burlington Central School District 301, expressed concerns over the proposed school donation and asked village officials to get as much in impact and transition fees as possible.

"The proposed impact fees are lower than the other municipalities we're working with," Stirn said.

Michael Restivo was the only resident to voice support for the project Tuesday, though he encouraged village officials to proceed cautiously. "I think it really could be a benefit to the community," he said, adding that he likes the commercial aspect.

Conaway said developers want to break ground late this year or in early 2009. Building would take place over five to nine years, he said.