Batavia splits on senior housing proposals

Batavia’s city council split on senior housing proposals Monday night by approving one, but not another.

The council agreed to annex and rezone property off South Drive near Janet Lane, where Equity Growth Group has proposed building 80 apartments.

But the council voted 7-7, with Alderman Robert Liva absent, on the DKI project for Deerpath Road, where DKI has proposed building a 100-unit complex. Seven aldermen voted in favor of the DKI project and six voted against it, but to be approved the measure needed approval by a majority of the council — not just a majority of those present, according to the city’s attorney, Kevin Drendel. Mayor Jeff Schielke then voted against it, saying he thought the proposal needed to be reviewed “in a more calmly and timely fashion.”

Both firms wanted to apply for affordable housing tax credits from the Illinois Housing Development Authority; applications are due April 15. Public announcement and review of the projects began in January.

Both developers asked the city to amend its zoning map, changing the land uses from office to multifamily residential. Equity also applied to annex some of its land to the city.

Residents near the DKI project told the council of their concerns with the density of the project, including the closeness of parking lots to their single-family homes. The plan commission recommended approval for a two-story building instead of the three-story originally proposed. The plan commission also was concerned the site would need substantial water and sewer infrastructure improvements and more sidewalks to serve the site.

“At least give us some input,” said Bernard Kreiter of Collins Court, asking the city to take more time to discuss the DKI development. He wasn’t necessarily totally opposed — “the basic plan is not bad,” he said, adding he might favor a taller building if the parking could be underground. The site is surrounded by single-family houses.

Michael Huddleston of Wilson Street noted he bought his house based on the fact the neighboring site was designated for office use. Just because the market for office space is soft now doesn’t mean it won’t come back, he said. The offices were approved in 1995.

Aldermen Dawn Tenuta and Jim Volk voted against both measures in part because of timing. Both felt the developer’s time pressures were not the city council’s concern.

The Equity project would still have to go through the city’s design review process before getting permission to build. That process includes public hearings about details such as design, facades, stormwater management, landscaping and the like.