Panel gives thumbs-down to Villa Olivia plan

Elgin planning commission members Monday night voted against a proposed development on what's now the Villa Olivia Country Club.

As proposed, the development would include 96 houses, 279 townhouses and maybe a restaurant, banquet hall, bank, drug store and other businesses on the golf course property.

But the commission voted 5-2 to reject the housing component of the plan and 4-3 against the commercial development.

"There were a wide variety of reasons," said commission Chairman John Hurlbut, who voted against the housing proposal and in favor of the commercial plan.

Now it will be up to the city council to decide whether to move forward with the plan, which has drawn criticism from neighbors and Bartlett village officials because of a pending legal dispute over the property.

Bartlett officials had rejected an almost identical proposal two years ago.

In response, the landowners' corporate entity, VO-Land LLC, sued in August 2005, seeking to disconnect the property from Bartlett and remove a covenant requiring the property stay a golf course until 2022.

The case is pending in Cook County circuit court.

Bartlett officials had asked Elgin to delay any decision on the property until the legal matters are resolved.

That hasn't happened, but Bartlett officials at least are pleased with the planning commission's decision.

"That was very good news," Bartlett Village Attorney Bryan Mraz said. "We were happy with the decision and hope based on the recommendation by the plan commission that the city will follow suit and recognize this is premature."

The city council still could approve the project.

But if it doesn't, the plan commission could reconsider the development after the court case is resolved, said Tom Armstrong, Elgin's principal planner.

If asked, Armstrong said, "I'm sure they would look at it again. I don't know if the same project came back there would be enough votes. I just think they weren't enamored with the project."