Hearing for Villa Olivia proposal delayed until July

Elgin leaders will wait until July 23 to revisit the controversial Villa Olivia proposal while a builder settles some lingering issues at two other recent developments within the city.

Ryland Homes asked that an annexation hearing on Wednesday night to bring the 139-acre golf course off Route 20 into the city be delayed.

The city wants Ryland to work with residents of nearby Tuscan Woods and Castle Creek, both Ryland subdivisions, to fix about 30 neighborhood problems.

"It's unfortunate it takes a potential annexation agreement to get these things moving," said Council member David Kaptain.

Some issues include a retention pond that wouldn't hold water, confusion over whether ranch homes would be allowed, and crumbling sidewalks at wheelchair access points, said Ryland attorney Peter Bazos.

"(The complaints) seeming to be getting in the way of the existing (Villa Olivia) project and Ryland wanted to address those," Bazos said.

The owners of Villa Olivia, a 139-acre golf course, want to leave Bartlett so Ryland can build 325 homes.

Elgin leaders held an annexation hearing last month so when a court dispute ends, the land could be brought into Elgin. No decision has been made.

A judge has ruled the golf course may leave Bartlett, but also upheld a covenant forbidding residential redevelopment of 98 acres of the site until 2022.

Both sides have appealed. A decision from the appellate court is not expected for 12 to 18 months -- and it could negate whatever Elgin officials decide.

Ryland wants to build 96 single-family houses and 279 townhouses.

Elgin's plan commission, which makes recommendations on new developments, has voted against the plan. People living near it also opposed it, arguing the townhouses would be too tall and ugly, the plan didn't have enough open space, and traffic would cut through their subdivision because the new area did not have its own entrance.

Bazos has said the covenant would allow 1,275 homes to be erected when it expires and Ryland was proposing much less. Bazos had said the plan would include 11 acres of commercial development along with single-family homes starting in the $400,000s.