Controversial Oakbrook Terrace-area project hits county roadblock

The DuPage County Board's development committee initially rejected Tuesday plans for a massive mixed use project near Oakbrook Terrace.

But a proposal to reduce the residential density of the project by about 25 percent gave some committee members second thoughts, and they agreed to return in three weeks to discuss the downsized plans. Committee members said that will give the developer and objectors enough time to update traffic impact studies.

The committee initially voted 4-3 against the Lakes of Royce Renaissance project. Democrats Dirk Enger, Rita Gonzalez and Tony Michelassi voted against the proposal along with Republican Jeff Redick. Redick represents the district where the project is located.

"These pretty significant changes in the density should have an impact on the amount of traffic," Redick said. "But we'll have to see."

Traffic experts said the project would add 12,000 to 14,000 vehicles per day on Butterfield Road.

The proposed reduction in density doesn't go far enough for Oakbrook Terrace officials, who said the 82-acre parcel off Butterfield Road and Ardmore Avenue should have a quarter of the residential units initially proposed. They complained that unanimous approval of the project by the county's zoning board of appeals two weeks ago didn't take into account the city's own land-use plan for the parcel. Up until December of 2007 the property was within Oakbrook Terrace, but then land owner Robert Krilich de-annexed the property after years of fighting with the city over development proposals.

"There seems to be a rush to judgment here," complained Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Thomas Mazaika. "The city's plans were ignored, and given the impact on the city and the burden on city resources if it's approved, our plan should have received some consideration."

Developers wanted to build more than 2,000 condominium, townhouse and apartment units on the parcel along with a sizable retail and restaurant component and a 302-room Holiday Inn hotel at the entrance to the property.

Kim Plencner is developing the property for Krilich. The initial proposal called for 500 residential units be set aside for senior housing and another 10 percent made available for local work force housing. Plencner said that density reductions don't mean those housing components will be the first to get the ax.

"That's what we have to review and we'll go through all of that to see what will work best," he said. "All the housing has to work together to make the project marketable."

The committee will meet again April 7.