Officials don't want dense apartment complex near Charlestowne Mall

From protest lines to courtrooms, developing the land next to Charlestowne Mall has involved a series of obstacles, legal technicalities and economic turmoil. St. Charles plan commissioners added one more hurdle for developers Monday night but also, perhaps, brought some clarity to what sort of project will curry favor with city officials.

Residents near the site, once pegged for a new Super Walmart, have said all along they don't mind development at the site - they just don't want towering, big-box stores and a massive residential complex.

The jury is still out on the big-box stores.

Plan commissioners agreed Monday to split the 30-acre site into three lots. The two lots closest to the mall will be reserved for commercial development per the requests of the land owner, the Naperville-based Oliver-Hoffmann Corp.

Lot 1, at nearly 12 acres, could potentially house a large store but would have significant parking requirement problems unless the large store were incorporated into the mall property.

The second commercial lot, at about 6 acres, would have room for smaller retail or office growth.

That leaves about 11 acres for a third lot that is targeted for residential development. It has been the subject of most of the debate during recent public hearings on the site.

The owners of the land asked for a zoning of the property that would allow them to build housing at the greatest density levels the city allows. Residents near the site have repeatedly balked at the idea of more than 200 dwelling units in a large apartment complex after enjoying nearly 20 years of vacant land next to the mall.

On Monday, plan commissioners agreed with them. With a 4-1 vote, the commission voted to recommend zoning that allows only mid-size residential development.

The lone "no" vote was from Commissioner Brian Doyle. Doyle agreed with the concept of lighter residential development, but he wanted to give the developer flexibility to concoct a project with very high density that may still fit the character of the area, such as an assisted living facility.

Developers will, in truth, still have that option despite the commission's recommendation. Asking for amended zoning is always a possibility at the site, as is going to court if property owners believe the city is unjustly devaluing the property with unfair zoning. The city council may also choose to ignore the commission's recommendations.

Overall, commissioners said their main problem with the zoning request was the lack of a plan showing what would be built if the dense zoning was granted.

"You don't buy something sight unseen," Doyle said. "What are we approving by granting (high-density zoning)? We don't know."

A detailed plan doesn't exist because the owners of the land don't yet have a developer on board to actually construct anything on the residential parcel. The request for a zoning change to high-density residential was possibly a move to help lure a developer to the project. Commissioners said that didn't make sense.

"It's not the zoning's fault that property wasn't developed," said Commissioner Tim Kessler. "It's been 18 years. Get a new real estate agent."

Big: No residential developer has been chosen