Previously criticized housing plan near St. Charles is back with less density, bigger lots

After their initial plan faced criticism, developers aiming to build a subdivision on 38 acres of historic Red Gate Farm near St. Charles are back with a revised proposal.

M/I Homes submitted a concept plan for Claibourne Farm at a committee of the whole meeting Monday. It contains several changes from the original proposal after residents and local officials raised objections during a Nov. 18 plan commission meeting.

Residents from Rivers Edge, The Reserve of St. Charles, Red Gate, Traditions and the Red Gate Ridge subdivisions voiced concerns during Monday’s meeting.

The chief complaint of the original plan was the density of the homes and the small sizes of the properties. City officials and residents requested developers add more green spaces and landscape buffers, save as many mature trees as possible, and better fit the designs with the property density of surrounding homes.

The new concept proposal reduces the total number of homes from 83 to 76. This helps increase the average lot size from 11,750 square feet to 12,942 square feet, or about 0.297 acres.

Developers say the plans also include increased lot widths along the northern property line and increased lot widths and depths along the western property line.

Following further feedback, if the developers decide to pursue the project, applications for annexation into the city, rezoning and subdividing the land would need to be filed and approved by the city council.

Why was the original concept plan opposed?

M/I Homes previously said their houses are targeted for “discerning high-income families, move-up buyers.”

During the November meeting, one resident opposing the development said, “Who wants to spend $800,000 for a 0.2-acre lot?”

A representative for M/I Homes said the lot sizes are tailored to people who no longer want to take care of their lawns and added it’s not cost-efficient to develop half-acre lots anymore.

Community members earlier claimed developers are trying to cram as many homes in the area as they can to maximize profit at the expense of the surrounding community.

City officials echoed residents’ concerns, saying a less dense plan should be developed. The city also recommended the developers add more than one access route.

The previous concept plan proposal involved cutting down almost every mature tree.

City officials said the developers should make the plan more in keeping with the surrounding residential areas. Existing homes in the area feature lots ranging from a half-acre to an acre.

The unincorporated property along Red Gate Road would need to be annexed to St. Charles before construction could begin. The prospective land is the northern portion of the property, according to city documents.

The land is west of Rosebud Drive and south of Reserve Drive. Plans currently contain only one entry point, a new road connecting to Rosebud Drive in the Reserve of St. Charles subdivision. The area is near St. Charles North High School.

Community members can submit written comments regarding the Claibourne Farm Concept Plan to the city at cd@stcharlesil.gov.