St. Charles planners need your voice today

There is a development up for consideration in St. Charles that has serious tax issues for St. Charles residents and serious traffic issues for both Geneva and St. Charles.

Shodeen is to request a zoning change for 28 acres behind the Jewel on Randall Road between Route 38 and Prairie Street. He is pushing for rezoning from its current commercial use, which limits building height to just 45 feet, to one allowing residential. His plans for residential include multiple 8-story towers as well as 6-story buildings, plus parking decks, a hotel, office space, etc. Only 13 percent of this proposal is for commercial and restaurant space.

The tax issue for St, Charles in this economy is that the apartments produce far less tax revenue than commercial properties would generate long term. Apartments will cost taxpayers more for police protection, fire protection (no ladder truck large enough for eight floors), and increase school needs for Richmond, Davis, Haines, Thompson, St. Charles North and St. Charles East.

The revised plan of 777 apartments, no longer upscale and child light, but rather appealing to families, will cause infrastructure cost for water, electric, sewer and road improvements that will cost taxpayers.

The sheer size is unsightly for this community and not necessary to provide for new residents. There exists more than 1,000 apartments now in that area with a high vacancy rate. In addition, the land behind the Meijer store is now zoned for additional high density apartments and handicapped care units.

We need you, our St. Charles neighbors, to attend the plan commission meeting on Feb. 2.

Larry Norgaard

St. Charles