St. Charles development hinges on Charlestowne's expansion

From the onset of Tuesday's St. Charles Plan Commission meeting 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 voice displeasure at the first part of the development proposal.

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

Any commercial development awaits decisions by owners of the Charlestowne Mall regarding possible expansion. Until then, the residential component can move ahead. That is the portion residents saw for the first time Tuesday. On the table is a plan that would build about 217 apartments on 10.6 acres. A development that size would draw about 400 residents, officials said. The community would not be unlike many suburban apartment complexes with extensive outdoor parking and a large detention pond. Traffic estimates are yet to come. Questions from plan commissioners and residents indicate it will be a tough road to approval for any portion of the project.

"This is an awful lot of asphalt and rooftops," Commissioner Renee Hanlon said in criticizing the creativity of the design and its lack of green space.

Over a period of about two hours, residents criticized everything from the density of the proposed community (they'd prefer townhouses) to the possibility of noise created by an outdoor pool in the complex. Residents also expressed concern about the impact of more children on local schools and more residents using local parks.

The meeting was the first in a series of public hearings before the concept is fine-tuned and becomes an issue for elected officials.