‘Where’s the mixed use?’: Lisle panel backs Pulte townhouse development, with a caveat

New houses built by Pulte Homes in Lisle have sold for more than $1 million.

The builder has seen “very strong demand” in its new subdivision off Route 53, said attorney Russ Whitaker.

“I would say both the Woodridge portion of that project, which is town homes and duplexes, and the Lisle portion — single-family homes — have both been a resounding success,” he said.

Lisle planning and zoning commissioners support another Pulte project: a proposed townhouse community to the east of the former Family Square, a vacant shopping center at the gateway to the village’s downtown.

“Do I want the residential side of this, the Pulte side of it? Absolutely,” said Commissioner Mark Boyle.

Commissioners, however, want more space set aside for future commercial development.

So the advisory panel has recommended approval of the plans with the caveat that a commercial outlot off Ogden Avenue increase in size to at least .75 acres, reducing the number of townhouse units from 66 to 62. The village board gets the final say.

“We have to have that commercial component to make up for the fact that we're giving up so much space for residential,” said MaryLynn Zajdel, the commission’s chair.

Pulte estimates townhouse sale prices would start at between $480,000 and $500,000. The builder expects units would close at between $540,000 and $600,000.

“We know that the residential sells today. We've got somebody who's very bullish on the residential opportunity,” Whitaker said.

Still, commissioners took issue with the size of the proposed lot — less than a half acre — for future commercial development at the north end of the site off Ogden Avenue.

“So, where's the mixed use? We won't have it,” said William Trussell, the lone “no” vote. “We'll have the development, which I think is absolutely outstanding, by the way, the housing development, 100% I love it.”

The existing parcels contain old single-family homes as well as a vacant drive-through bank.

“It hasn't been mixed-use for a long time,” Whitaker said. “It hasn't been anything for a long time. It's been a vacant building, which is what there's been a lot of in downtown Lisle for a long time.”

The proposed development, by contrast, “allows you to begin to eliminate some vacancy (and) add productive residential units in to support the commercial that does exist,” he said.

A previous proposal included an apartment building on the west side of the site. Bridge Street Properties, however, withdrew that zoning petition. Since then, it’s contracted with Pulte and revised the plans, removing the multifamily piece.

“While we are under contract to sell the residential portion of the development to Pulte, the developer of the property will be maintaining the commercial site, will be marketing the commercial site for sale, ultimately potentially proceeding with his own development of the commercial site,” Whitaker explained.

He gave examples of what could go on the commercial lot, including a potential drive-through coffee business, a quick-service restaurant or a medical office.

“It continues to concern me that this is just too small, and the focus being on drive-through and not a, say, Raymes restaurant or Bavarian Lodge or a restaurant that has parking for its employees, parking for some of its customers,” Zajdel said.

Whitaker noted the site is not in the core of downtown.

“We don't really believe that a sit-down, owner-occupied restaurant is a viable plan for development of this property,” he said.

Each three-story townhouse would include a two-car garage. Pulte also would offer an option to build out a habitable attic space with an outdoor terrace, creating livable space on the fourth floor. And the target buyer?

“It could be millennials,” Pulte’s Matt Brolley said. “It could be folks coming out of Chicago looking to settle down with their family, start a family, or younger folks just want to be in downtown Lisle.”