Bartlett officials offer early praise for proposed 146-unit apartment complex
Bartlett officials have largely praised a plan to transform a family's 15-acre unincorporated property off Naperville Road into a 146-unit apartment complex that would be annexed by the village.
But Trustee Aaron Reinke expressed some concern that the proposed Puckett Reserve apartment complex could create density, traffic and tree-retention issues for neighbors to the north and south.
The development would consist of four two-story apartment buildings and a 10,000-square-foot amenities building on the site's northwest corner. The amenities building would offer residents micro-office and event space rentals, as well as two outdoor courtyards that could include swimming pools.
The land, bought by Earl Puckett in 1960, lies on the east side of Naperville Road about 2,000 feet south of Lake Street. There are townhouses to the north and single-family homes to the south, all of which are in the village of Bartlett.
An early concept plan was presented to the village board at last week's committee-of-the-whole meeting by Kevin Lange, the grandson of Earl Puckett.
Though Lange lives in Phoenix, he said his grandfather's property is special to his extended family because of memories of summers and holidays spent there during the past 60 years.
"It means a lot to us," Lange said. "We had a lot of fun there."
As such, they want the property's next chapter to reflect the affection they have for it, he said. A developer hired a year and a half ago did not deliver on those expectations, so the family has taken greater control over the project, Lange explained.
Apartment rents are still being studied, but current estimates are $1,400 to $1,600 per month for one bedroom, $2,200 to $3,000 for two bedrooms, and $2,800 to $4,000 for three bedrooms. There would be only one or two units at the highest cost level.
The development would include decorative walls along the north and south property lines to help screen headlights from the view of the neighboring homes.
Several members of the village board said they were impressed by their first look at the project's description and computer renderings.
"I think it's a fantastic concept," Village President Kevin Wallace said.
Trustee Raymond Deyne, who chairs the village board's building & zoning committee, called it one of the most attractive designs he'd ever seen during his time on the board.
Bartlett Planning & Development Services Director Roberta Grill emphasized that board members saw only an informal presentation of the concept plan. A formal proposal, which would go through a more rigorous review, has not yet been filed and village officials have not yet been informed of when that would occur, she added.