Round Lake panel turns down townhouse plan

Plans for 249 townhouses in southern Round Lake took a hit when an advisory village panel turned a thumbs-down Tuesday night.

Members of the Round Lake plan commission/zoning board of appeals issued the negative recommendation by a 5-0 vote with one abstention. The panel's finding on NBG Land Partners' proposal will be forwarded to the Round Lake village board, which gets the final word.

"We are not against development, but this plan I cannot support," said plan commission/zoning board of appeals member Kate Kristan, whose position satisfied about 50 opponents jammed into Round Lake village hall.

If built, the NBG Land Partners project would rise on part of a 120-acre site near Fairfield Road and Route 60. Rosemont-based NBG wants to bring the unincorporated property in Fremont Township within Round Lake village borders through annexation.

Roughly 73 of the 120 acres would be open space for the subdivision tentatively dubbed The Preserve. NBG proposes to upgrade the wetlands by using herbicides to get rid of undesirable plants and other methods.

Fremont Elementary District 79 Superintendent Rick Taylor said internal estimates show the project would create at least 87 additional students, delivering a financial blow in the process. He said the gap between the cost of educating the children and tax revenue produced from the townhouses would be more than $250,000.

"More residential does not mean a higher quality of life for any community," Taylor said.

NBG managing member Marc Neuerman defended the project and said his company has been working to refine the plans with Round Lake staff members.

"I think from our standpoint," Neuerman said, "we presented a strong plan to the village of Round Lake."

Before the vote, several residents from unincorporated Fremont Township and Round Lakel spoke against the plan. Among the concerns, opponents said the townhouses would increase traffic congestion on major thoroughfares such as Route 60, destroy the wetlands and reduce area property values.

NBG would construct clusters of two-story townhouses. Trails would be built for public use and to connect the subdivision.