Elburn keeping development close to the vest

Is Geneva developer Shodeen Inc. proceeding with plans for a mixed-use development around the Elburn Metra station or pulling out?

While neither the village nor the developer is saying the deal is off, the village sounds a lot more optimistic.

Doubts about the future of the project rose after an April 1 Elburn plan commission meeting. According to minutes from the meeting, commissioners had several objections to the plans, including the lack of open space and parks, the density of apartments and a concern with transient housing.

David Patzelt, president of Shodeen Inc., was at the meeting.

"We were disappointed in Elburn's response to our latest submittal," Patzelt told the Daily Herald. "Our original proposal in January 2007 was well-received. We spent over a year working with staff and paid over $100,000 in consulting fees and reviews. To our dismay, we found that the planning commission was not on the same page as the village staff."

Patzelt said the village, particularly the plan commission, has a lack of understanding of the project, which has features unique to a development that is wrapped around a transportation hub.

Shodeen has proposed a 682-acre, mixed-used development north and south of the Metra station. Plans call for about 3,100 residential units, including apartments, duplex units and single-family homes. There also is proposed commercial development along Route 38.

"The whole concept is to offer a wide range of housing style and prices," Patzelt said. "This means there will be residents from a wide range of socioeconomic levels. Both the staff and the planning commission have a hard time understanding the mix."

Elburn Village Administrator David Morrison says the village has continued to meet with Shodeen, and he believes the project will move forward.

"When the original proposal was made to the planning commission there was wide acceptance for the concept," Morrison said. "One or two commissioners seem to have backed off. We plan to meet with the village board about how to address these concerns."

"A transit-oriented development is easy to understand, but putting it into application is very difficult," Morrison added. "The project will be done by someone. And I'm confident that Shodeen can make it work."

Village staff met with Patzelt last week regarding engineering details for the portion of the plan north of Route 38. This may be an indication Shodeen is moving ahead with this phase. But while Patzelt confirmed he has met with staff since the April 1 commission meeting, he said Shodeen has no plans to reduce the size of the project.

"They have asked us to come back and listen to what they have to say," Patzelt said. "We'll listen. But that doesn't mean we will move forward. We're not excited about submitting another proposal and getting caught in an endless cycle."