Hampshire closer to annexing land for homes

A proposed community in an unincorporated area near Hampshire moved closer to annexation after the developer made concessions to reduce the number of homes per acre to meet village code requirements.

The village board last month rejected an annexation agreement with Batavia-based Robert Arthur Land Company for the proposed Hampshire Grove development, a 883-home community that consists of age-restricted homes and traditional homes.

Part of the board's hesitation was based on the density of the Active Adult project, as well as setback measurements and the monotony code.

The developer had requested a variance to allow 1.83 homes per acre, instead of the 1.75 homes per acre as allowed by village code. That variance would have made room for an additional 41 homes. The developer also requested 25-foot setbacks in the front yard and 30-yard setbacks in the backyard. The village code calls for 30-foot setbacks in the front and 40-foot setback in the rear yard. Some trustees have asked for at least 30 feet in each yard.

But the developer, Arthur Zwemke, subsequently agreed to meet the village's density standard and would instead use the additional 10 acres for commercial use, Village Administrator Eric Palm told the board on Thursday.

While an agreement is still pending, board members said they would be amenable to the commercial space and 30 foot setbacks.

"I am OK with all three; I am not opposed to less houses," Trustee Ed Szydlowski said. "More commercial means more tax dollars."

But Trustee George Brust said he would prefer the developer use the additional space created by removing some homes to meet the village's code regarding setbacks.

"The homes would be spread over the ground and cover the lots that he would now want for commercial use," Brust said.