Proposal hinges on Charlestowne Mall's expansion

From the onset of the St. Charles Plan Commission meeting Tuesday night residents let it be known they aren't opposed to development of the land next to Charlestowne Mall once targeted for a Super Wal-Mart. Then they proceeded to blast away at what will arguably be the least controversial portion of the development yet to come.

St. Charles officials settled a legal dispute over the future development of the site with the property owners just last month. The settlement opens the door to future development of the site in a manner city officials deemed appropriate for the greatest good of the citizens. No citizens were consulted in what the definition of the greatest good actually is, generating visible disdain by residents for the rules that will guide future development of the site.

All commercial development awaits decisions yet to be made by owners of the Charlestowne Mall regarding their interest in expanding. Until then, the residential component can move ahead. That is the portion residents saw for the first time Tuesday night. On the table is a plan that would build about 217 apartments on 10.6 acres of the site. A development that size would draw about 400 residents including about 15 children, according to early estimates. The community would not be unlike most typical suburban apartment complexes complete with extensive outdoor parking and a large detention pond. Traffic estimates are yet to come site.

That didn't stop residents from picking away at the concept. Over a period of about two hours, residents criticized everything from the density of the proposed community (they'd rather have townhouses) to the possibility of noise created by an outdoor pool in the complex. Residents also worried about the impact of more children on local schools and more residents on local parks in the area.

The meeting was just the first of a series of public hearings on the project before the concept is fine-tuned and becomes an issue for elected officials to deal with.

Plans: More public hearings on proposals to come