Delnor Woods wins approval of St. Charles board

St. Charles aldermen Monday approved plans for an east-side townhouse development despite opposition from dozens of residents.

The Delnor Woods subdivision is slated to consist of 37 duplexes and triplexes on about 38 acres commonly known as the Norris/Collins estate, adjacent to Delnor Woods Park between Route 25 and Persimmon Drive.

The project also calls for a one-story, 10,000-square-foot office center in place of an old medical complex; four attached residences deemed "affordable" by the city; and eight lots earmarked for single-family estates expected to cost $2 million to $6 million.

While city planners say the development is capable of sustaining itself, surrounding homeowners contend the density defies the city's own development standards and could create problems with water management, traffic and aesthetics.

"It's completely against the current zoning," said neighbor Monica Corbett, who described the land as "environmentally pristine and wonderfully historic."

City staffers noted the development has been in the works in various forms since 2005 and said they believe it meets all necessary requirements. The project received favorable recommendations from two city committees before aldermen voted 7-3 Monday for final approval.

Aldermen Jim Martin, Jo Krieger and Ron Silkaitis voted against the project, but only Martin spoke out publicly. "I don't think townhouses are appropriate for that property," he said.

On Monday afternoon, opponents attempted to force a two-thirds majority vote by filing a two-page petition purportedly signed by more than 20 percent of the surrounding property owners. But the petition was deemed invalid because there was no sworn affidavit affirming the signatures were genuine and because of other technicalities, a city attorney said.

Martin expressed frustration after the petition failed to further the opponents' cause.

"I think it stinks," he said.