Annexation agreement rejected by Hampshire

An agreement to annex a large-scale residential development into Hampshire failed to gain adequate support from village board members Thursday over issues including density and setbacks.

Trustees rejected an annexation agreement with Batavia-based Robert Arthur Land Company for the proposed Hampshire Grove development, an 883 home community that consists of age-restricted homes and traditional homes. The development would add 774 Active Adult homes, for residents 55 years and older, as well as 109 traditional family homes. A 29-acre commercial park is also proposed.

While trustees agreed on outstanding issues such as allowing the developer to pay about $50,000 in annexation fees in phases, open space and model lots, board members quibbled over the village's monotony code, the number of homes per acre and rear and front yard setbacks.

In a letter to Village Administrator Eric Palm, the developer, Arthur Zwemke, requested the village approve the proposed density of 1.83 homes per acre. The village code, however, allows for 1.75 homes per acre.

"We believe this adjustment in the density is fair consideration for the benefits to schools, parks and regional roads ...," wrote Zwemke, president of the Robert Arthur Land Company.

But the village board were split in their decision to approve the variance, which would allow for 41 more lots to the development.

"We are getting a lot more than we are giving," Trustee Martin Ebert said, referring to the contributions to Community Unit District 300, additional park space and numerous road improvements.

There was also no clear consensus on a variance for yard setbacks with some trustees approving 25-foot setbacks in the front yard and 30-foot setbacks in the rear yard.

Others wanted the developer to comply with the village's 30-foot and 40-foot setbacks for the front and rear yards, respectively.

"He can still build a variety of houses that he's got here," Trustee George Brust said. "Put the house that fits."