St. Charles center plans might change after it gets to city council

For many months, St. Charles residents have peppered developers of the Towne Center project with concerns about size and density through public hearings via the city's plan commission.

But Mayor Don DeWitte said residents aren't likely to see any actual changes to the project until the city council begins its debate on it.

The plan commission has mulled over the Towne Center's mix of retail and residential units and incorporation of affordable housing units for months. But DeWitte said after a city council committee meeting Monday that the Shodeen company developing the project is most likely not going to budge much on the plans until it gets a taste of how open the final decision makers are to the current plans.

DeWitte rarely votes on such projects as mayor, but on Monday he said he supports the overall concept, with some key changes.

"Personally, I think it needs to have a few more changes," DeWitte said. "I think the density needs to come down. I think the mass is still a little bit too much for a lot of people. But until it comes out of the plan commission and gets to the council, I don't think you'll see any significant negotiation or discussion take place about here's what we really think you need to do if you ever want this project to be approved. I know some people think this project is cast in stone, (or) that the deal is done. That's just nonsense."

The project will return to the plan commission April 6 for the continuation of the public hearing.

Also coming next month will be public hearings on the city's budget for 2010-2011, before the city council locks in a 2 percent increase to the tax on all liquor sales. The tax increase is expected to net nearly $900,000 in new income for the city.

In a separate, but somewhat related vote, the city council is also likely to approve to extend liquor sales at local bars and restaurants until 2 a.m.

DeWitte said he doesn't believe the extended hours will result in significant new business for local taverns but said the change is worth trying.

"Some of us didn't realize that Geneva, Batavia and South Elgin are already operating until 2 a.m.," DeWitte said. "I think it's fair. We need to put them on a level playing field with their competition. But I think a lot of these guys are going to find that it's going to be more expensive for them to stay open than what they'll actually gain."

The extended hours are generally seen as a trade-off to local businesses to allow them to recoup any lost profits from the liquor tax increase.

Plans: Council may extend bar hours until 2 a.m.