Elburn townhouse plans sent back for revisions

A plan for five townhouse buildings on Elburn's northeast side was met with skepticism in its initial presentation Tuesday.

Plans for Lilac Ridge were introduced by Brookfield-based developer Burzak Investment Group Inc. The plan calls for 23 three-bedroom townhouses spread over five buildings on 3.4 acres on the west side of Third Street and south of Willow Street.

Three of the buildings would have five units and two would have four.

In addition to the townhouses, the developer proposed an extension of Lilac Street to connect Third and Second streets.

"This will be a high-quality development focused on high-quality design that will fit in with the 'Mayberry' feel of Elburn," David Hrizak, Burzak Investment Group president, told plan commissioners. "We feel Lilac Ridge is going to assist in your overall goals."

Hrizak said he hoped the development would attract both young couples just starting out and senior citizens looking to downsize.

Commissioners were not convinced the plan fits with the neighborhood, which consists of older, smaller homes.

"I would think that something like this is going to increase traffic," Plan Commissioner Sue Filek said. "I think it's going to be kind of monstrous and out of place."

"I just feel like it's too dense," added Plan Commission Chairwoman Pat Schuberg, who said she might be more in favor of duplexes in the neighborhood than five-unit buildings.

Additional concerns of commissioners included lack of open space, parking, the prominence of the garage door at the front of each unit, and landscaping.

"I see a need for something to happen on that property," Filek told developers. "You need to figure out how it's going to fit in with the neighborhood."

"We're not going to give up," Hrizak said. "We're going to go back and revise our plans."