Ponds of Stony Creek moving forward in far west Elgin

After hearing complaints from some Campton Hills residents, the Elgin City Council voted Wednesday night to approve a third amendment to the annexation agreement for the Ponds of Stony Creek subdivision in far west Elgin.

The subdivision is being built south of McDonald Road just west of Phar Lap Drive. The most recent amendment moves to the west one of the subdivision's two entrances along McDonald Road. The agreement was originally approved in 2005 and amendments were later added.

The internal configuration of the 279-acre subdivision will change slightly, but the number of homes, 504, remains unchanged, officials said.

The latest issue came after the village of Campton Hills claimed jurisdiction over about 1,100 feet of McDonald Road. Attorney Peter Bazos said his client, the developer CalAtlantic, decided to move one of the entrances to the subdivision "rather than litigate."

Campton Hills also imposed a 90-day weight restriction over its portion of road after an engineering study that looked at potential damage from construction vehicles. That requires trucks to take detours, which Bazos called "just more difficulties that we are encountering."

Campton Hills submitted a critique of a traffic study commissioned by the developer. Campton Hills Interim Village Administrator Ron Searl said Thursday the critique focused on the age of the data and traffic flow assumptions.

At the Elgin meeting, a few Campton Hills residents questioned aspects of the subdivision's plan, including lighting and bike path configuration. The latter was addressed by a civil engineer for the developer, who said the design accounts for drops in elevation and the preservation of certain trees.

Elgin officials said the developer already amended its plan regarding lighting in the subdivision in response to concerns from Campton Hills, which has a dark skies ordinance to reduce light pollution. As for lighting along McDonald Road, the city will apply its own ordinance, officials said.

Campton Hills resident Wanda Brost said the developer needs to do a better job of cutting down weeds.

"Unfortunately over the years, the city and Campton Hills have not had the best relationship for a number of reasons," Councilwoman Tish Powell said. "... But I also think that if valid concerns have been raised, we need to take them under consideration."

Mayor David Kaptain said he's been disappointed by the lack of prompt responses from Campton Hills. Earlier this year the developer offered $75,000 to Campton Hills if the village transferred jurisdiction of those 1,100 feet to Elgin, but the village board rejected that in June.

Regarding any animosity between Campton Hills and Elgin, "All my interactions have been pleasant with folks," Searl said.