Campton Hills development might help school traffic

A 106-lot subdivision planned for Campton Hills will have a minimal effect on traffic and might actually reduce congestion at Bell-Graham Elementary School, a traffic specialist said this week.

Terry Heffron, a traffic researcher for developers of the Norton Lakes subdivision, told the village board the new houses would generate an estimated 1,088 vehicular trips in a 24-hour period, but existing roads are capable of supporting the extra load.

In addition, a two-acre donation to St. Charles School District 303 from the developers will give Bell-Graham, at 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd., an alternate area for student pickups, drop-offs and buses, a developer said.

"This is really an infill project when you look at it because of the existing roads around it," said Hank Harrison of Harrison Construction at a village board meeting Tuesday.

Norton Lakes, to be built south of Route 64 between Fox Mill Boulevard and Arbor Creek Road, was already in the works at the Kane County level when the village incorporated last April, Village President Patsy Smith said. The village approved a concept plan earlier this year.

Responding to village board questions this week, Heffron estimated that Norton Lakes will generate about 83 trips in peak morning hours and 24 trips in evening rush hours. On average, each home is expected to generate about 10 trips a day.

"It's not a tremendous amount," Heffron said. "It can be pretty easily accommodated."

In a related issue, the Wasco Sanitary District, which serves Campton Hills, announced recently that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency granted a permit to serve the new houses in Norton Lakes.