DuPage County gets look at proposed housing project
A company looking to transform a golf course near Lombard into a multifamily residential development has submitted a site plan and traffic study to DuPage County to counter claims opponents have made about the project.
Donven Homes has been assisting efforts by Ken-Loch Golf Links' owners to rezone the property along Finley Road, north of 22nd Street. That's because Donven intends to buy the 31-acre parcel if DuPage approves a zoning change that would allow apartments, townhouses or condominiums on the site.
The land currently is zoned for houses.
Donven officials say the company's tentative proposal is to construct four luxury apartment buildings, a clubhouse and 18 structures with upscale townhouses and row houses. If built, the project would be dubbed Woodmoor on Finley Road.
But the rezoning request is being challenged by Lombard village and park district officials and neighbors. They're urging DuPage's zoning board of appeals to reject it.
During a public hearing in August, opponents said they believe the proposed development would increase traffic congestion, cause flooding and put a strain on schools and other local government services.
So Donven did something it wasn't required to: It updated the zoning application to include the site plan and the traffic study.
“The move to amend it (the zoning application) was to specifically address some of the issues that were raised at the public hearing,” said Douglas O'Brien, a spokesman for Donven Homes. “Donven understands why people are always going to be concerned about any proposed development. They wanted to proactively address those issues with the ZBA.”
The site plan, for example, shows a buffer area between the proposed development and an existing subdivision to the east. The buffer would have open space, including stormwater detention and wetlands.
“This development is going to help alleviate stormwater issues,” O'Brien said.
The site plan also shows the proposed development having only two entrances, which would both be along Finley Road.
“So there's not going to be any traffic that comes from Woodmoor into any of the surrounding residential areas,” O'Brien said.
Meanwhile, a study concludes that traffic generated by Woodmoor's 392 dwelling units would have “little impact on the existing roadway system and adjacent intersection operations.”
The traffic study was done by Gewalt Hamilton Associates Inc.
On Monday, Lombard Community Development Director Bill Heniff said the village is reviewing the new information and plans to respond during a public hearing scheduled for next week.
But, Heniff said, the information doesn't change Lombard's position that rezoning the site would be “inconsistent” with the county's comprehensive plan, which dates to 1990.
“Those matters are still present,” he said.
The county's zoning board of appeals eventually will make a recommendation to the DuPage County Board. County board members will make the final decision on whether the zoning change should be approved.