Controversial Oakbrook Terrace land cleared for development

The first hurdle in turning a long-vacant 82-acre parcel into a multiuse development with hundreds of townhouses and condominiums has been cleared.

The DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously recommended approval of the Lakes of Royce Renaissance project at Thursday's meeting. The vote comes after three lengthy sessions before the board where developers pleaded their case for the project's need and Oakbrook Terrace officials denounced the proposal because of stormwater, traffic and density issues.

The land's owner had voluntarily de-annexed it from Oakbrook Terrace.

"I think this is major," said Royce Realty President Kim Plencner. "Because real people who understand development and realize how beautiful it can be voted on this. Before we haven't been able to get anywhere."

But Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Thomas Mazaika said the city will continue its fight when the county board's development committee takes up the proposal, which could come as early as March 17.

"I just thought there'd be more logic applied to the decision," Mazaika said afterward.

Board members said they saw no reason to reject the proposal based on the limited scope of their powers.

"Oakbrook Terrace never seemed to object to the concept; they were more opposed to the density," said board member Thomas Laz.

The parcel is along Butterfield Road between Summit Avenue and Meyers Road. It is owned by Robert Krilich, who gained notoriety for rigging a 1985 hole-in-one contest to pay off a bribe to former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Richard Sarallo's son. He was convicted of fraud and racketeering, then spent 11 years in a federal prison before being released in 2006. He now lives in Florida.

Krilich had fought Oakbrook Terrace for years to approve his plans for the development and finally opted to voluntarily deannex from the city in 2007. The county has more lenient zoning regulations than most cities.

Besides the housing units, the project also features several retail shops and plans for a 302-room Holiday Inn. Two of the condominium towers would top out about 235 feet, making them some of the tallest structures in the county. But board members said they were far enough away from the nearest residential neighborhood to render any height concerns moot.

Board members also approved the project based on the proposal's current designs and recommended that any deviations require developers to return to the county for approval. The current designs call for hundreds of underground parking spots and pervious pavement to help ease storm water runoff concerns.