Elgin commission says no to home, townhome development
A plan to build homes atop a 52-acre golf course on Elgin's southeast side received a thumbs down from a key city advisory board Monday.
The city's Planning and Development Commission voted 5-2 against approving a plan to erect 82 single-family homes and 68 townhomes at the Rolling Knolls Country Club, 11N260 Rohrssen Road.
Commissioners said the plan, called Hidden Creek at Rolling Knolls, tried to put too many homes on too small a site.
"You're putting a 50-foot wide home on a 60-foot wide lot," said Commissioner Chris Awe. "All you're going to see is a sea of rooftops because the houses are so close together."
Joining Awe in voting no were: Commission Chairman John Hurlbut; Leo Nelson; Bennie Sowers; and Christopher Barry.
Nearby residents had argued the homes, many with lots about 1/8th of an acre, did not fit in with the surrounding area. They also had concerns about traffic, the effect on schools and density proposed by FourFathers Development and Links Limited Partnership.
Commissioners Anna Moeller and Bob Siljestrom voted in favor of the plan.
Siljestrom argued that the city's previous Comprehensive Plans in 1917 and 1983 were influenced by extreme outside factors, such as the advent of the automobile and rapid annexation by towns east of Elgin, respectively.
He said gas at $4 a gallon is forcing people and communities away from larger, 10,000-square-foot lots found in new west side developments.
The city staff also recommended approval of the plan, which also would have preserved the back nine holes at the course.
The commission makes recommendations on new projects, but the city council has the final say. However, it would take at least six of eight council members - a supermajority - to overturn Monday's recommendation.
The developers said they would bring their project to the council, which likely would happen in September or early October.
"We're moving forward," said Joe Mukite, a partner with FourFathers.
Tom Schneider, another partner in FourFathers, said the group may either adjust the plan or propose to develop the entire golf course site.