Shops, offices, more get first OK for Mooseheart land
The Batavia plan commission Wednesday recommended the city amend its comprehensive plan to allow Moose International to commercially develop half of its Mooseheart school property.
The fraternal organization proposes to allow Batavia to annex about 470 acres along Randall Road on the western edge of the campus, and build shops, offices, homes, movie theaters and a hotel. Most of it is east of Randall Road, between Main Street and Mooseheart Road, but a small portion is on the northwest corner of Randall and Orchard roads.
Until several years ago, students at the private residential school used the farmland to raise crops and cattle, learning the agricultural trade.
The recommendation now goes to the city council's community development committee June 15.
The only member of the public attending the meeting was Batavia schools Superintendent Jack Barshinger. He was relieved to hear that 200 acres designated for single-family housing would likely be legally restricted to housing for senior citizens, by covenants on the deeds.
"That (restriction) would be permanent on the land forever?" Barshinger clarified. He is concerned about increasing student enrollment, and typically, subdivisions built for senior citizens do not generate many, if any, school-age children.
He also suggested that a parcel identified for "mixed use" - retail, office and housing - on the northern end be moved farther south, as the school district is worried it would only worsen congestion along Main Street near Batavia High School.
Barshinger also cautioned plan commissioners that even though the housing in question would be age-restricted, that doesn't mean it wouldn't ultimately result in more students attending Batavia schools. Barshinger said the addition of senior housing in another town he worked in caused quicker "intergenerational" turnover in the existing houses in town than would normally happen, with seniors selling to younger families and moving in to the new place.
Much would depend on whether the development is marketed mostly to local residents, or if it would draw from a wide region, such as Sun City in Huntley.
Amending the comprehensive plan is just the first step. Design review and details about required donations of land or cash to the school and park districts would come once an annexation agreement has been submitted, said Jerry Nelson, community development director.
Joe Segobiano of Hudson Burnham Development Partners, representing Moose International, said the Moose intend to pay the full school donation, even though developers of age-restricted housing typically ask for a reduced fee.
Part of the site falls in West Aurora School District 129; that portion would likely have "upscale" apartments and some commercial use, according to the proposal.
Plan: Portion near Dist. 128 would have 'upscale' tenants