Palatine OKs 14-home subdivision without objection

After several months of revisions and numerous discussions with neighbors, Palatine residents appear to be on board with a plan to build 14 single-family homes just northeast of Birchwood Park.

The Palatine village council Monday gave unanimous final approval to the 4.7-acre residential subdivision at 262 W. Michigan Ave. without a single objection raised.

“There have been a series of meetings that have taken place with neighbors around this area (to address concerns),” Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said.

In April, developer KF Walter Homes LLC faced an uphill battle with the project between neighbors, who expressed concerns about the impact on already problematic flooding in the area, and village staff, which said the builder needed to downsize to meet Palatine’s zoning codes.

The developer did agree to eliminate one lot from the 15-home subdivision that was originally proposed in order to increase the average lot size, a move that placated the village. Additionally, the company agreed to reroute stormwater away from neighbors, past a culvert and discharge it into Salt Creek farther downstream.

KF Walter Homes, which held another neighborhood meeting in September and sent notice to area residents inviting them, said it would construct a water detention area significantly larger than required. It also agreed to a tree preservation plan to maintain many of the existing trees on the northern property line.

Most of the neighbors who opposed the Michigan Avenue development live in the Pleasant Hill subdivision to the immediate north. Engineers said the 14 homes will neither exacerbate nor alleviate drainage problems because the new subdivision is located downstream.