Luxury rental development in Cary gets zoning approval, despite resident outcry over traffic, safety
Zoning commissioners gave a positive recommendation to a proposed mixed-use luxury community in Cary despite resident concerns over a road extension that would connect a neighborhood street to Route 31.
The proposal, called Seasons at Cary, includes almost 5 acres of commercial space and 360 units of what’s been described as luxury rental housing with a pool house, pickleball courts and other amenities. It would be located on the Damisch Farm property, east of Route 31, south of the Walmart Supercenter in Crystal Lake and north of Hoffman Park.
Cary’s Zoning, Planning and Appeals Commission gave a unanimous recommendation for the plan Thursday. The village board is expected to vote on the project Oct. 7.
Milwaukee-based Fiduciary Real Estate Development returned for a continuation from the first meeting in July, which was paused after it went longer than three hours. Last Thursday’s meeting also was lengthy, with more than two hours of public comments, echoing similar concerns from the previous meeting on traffic, safety, property values and the recent influx of rental units in the village.
Residents from the neighboring Cambria subdivision have been pushing back against the development, specifically opposing the northern access point that would extend New Haven Drive west to Route 31 with a full intersection. Opponents have said that it would disrupt their community.
Commissioners included in their recommendation a stipulation that would allow only traffic exiting from the existing Cambria neighborhood onto the new extension road but not allow traffic in, with the exception of emergency vehicles. In other words, the “unidirectional” road would connect to the subdivision through westbound traffic only.
“Sometimes compromises have to be made,” zoning Chairman Patrick Khoury said. “It’s not a perfect situation, but I think it’s the best we could do under the circumstances.”
Developers came back with a market value report and an updated traffic study that looked closer into the effects of the proposed New Haven Road extension. Both studies found there would be no substantial negative effects on the community.
But some residents still were left with uncertainties.
“Why would you destroy the safety, the serenity and the sanctity of our neighborhood, just to appease a developer? I don’t understand it,” resident Chris Negoda said.
Civil engineering company KLOA, which performed the traffic study, estimates about 900 cars coming east from the property line and about 2,200 cars coming from Georgetown Drive if the road is westbound only.
KLOA Principal Luay Aboona provided studies that despite the road extension being a shorter distance, it would take longer than taking the traditional routes of Three Oaks Road and Route 31 to get around the area.
Residents took issue with that, saying drivers will take any route to avoid the major roads and the nearby railroad tracks that cross Three Oaks Road.
The proposed traffic light at New Haven Drive and Route 31 is pending approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Even if one-way, a traffic light still may be warranted depending how much traffic the new access point generates, Aboona said.
To address safety concerns on New Haven Drive, the village can add “traffic calming measures” like raised sidewalks, speed tables, speed radar signs, pavement markings and raised medians, Community Development Director Brian Simmons said.