Lake Zurich approves new subdivision near Seth Paine Elementary

A new seven-house subdivision will be built near Seth Paine Elementary School on Lake Zurich's northwest side after the village board approved the proposal this week.

The plan calls for five houses to be built along the east side of Brierwoods Lane, just north of the road's intersection with Miller Road. The other two houses would be built on Miller Road, just east of the intersection and adjacent to the Whispering Creek subdivision.

The original plan presented in October by developer Perry Janke of Evermore Homes called for eight houses to be built on the 5.5-acre site, about half of which is protected wetlands. The houses would have been arranged around a new road and cul-de-sac.

However, members of the planning and zoning commission expressed concern the project would worsen flooding in the area.

Trustee Marc Spacone echoed those concerns at the village board meeting Monday night.

"I just want to make sure we're putting the due diligence in so that this is taken care of," Spacone said. "So we don't have seven homes or eight homes flooding and then we end up with complaints back to us in seven or eight years saying 'why was this approved? Obviously there's a problem here.'"

Sarosh Saher, the village's community development director, said changes were made to the plan to address the flooding problem in the area. The developer will dig a new half-acre water retention area next to the wetlands, she said.

"The developer has gone above and beyond what the ordinance requires," Saher said. "This is actually going to be an improvement to what currently exists in that wetland."

The village board unanimously approved the proposal.

After the votes were tallied, Mayor Thomas Poynton thanked Janke for changing the plan.

"Thank you for taking the extra step to go over and above," Poynton said. "I know it probably caused you some extra revenue on the extra house but I think that's the right move in the long run."