Long-vacant Bartlett land targeted for 43 houses

A narrow piece of Bartlett land with a history of unfulfilled housing ventures has lured a new developer.

William Ryan Homes has stepped forward with a concept to build 43 single-family homes on Naperville Road south of Lake Street and east of Villa Olivia, the park district's golf, banquet and ski venue. Old Second National Bank in Aurora owns the vacant, 13.5-acre site.

In 2006, the village backed a preliminary plan for 87 townhouses there, but the developer never pitched final designs. A year later, another developer embraced larger townhouses, but the housing market crash sidelined the so-called Bartlett Ridge project.

William Ryan Homes wants to take on the Bartlett Ridge name for a subdivision of ranch-style and two-story homes ranging in price from about $300,000 to upward of $400,000. The Glenview-based company has built single-family homes across the suburbs, including Barrington, Elgin and Naperville.

Bartlett officials acknowledge the linear shape of the property poses some constraints. Several trustees, though, take issue with the proposed 25-foot backyard setback on lots, instead of the 45 feet spelled out in village code.

“I do have a problem with that, and I think probably it's because we're trying to squeeze 10 pounds of feathers into a five-pound sack,” Trustee T.L. Arends said during a presentation.

William Ryan representatives plan to tweak the lot layouts and prepare more detailed engineering and landscaping plans. The developer hopes to secure village board approval in the next several months and begin construction later this year, Vice President of Land Nate Wynsma said in an email Wednesday.

“Our goal is to have homes ready to deliver in the spring of next year,” Wynsma wrote.

The village welcomes the idea of single-family homes on the land, even though Bartlett's comprehensive plan envisions a commercial use. The site has an RV dealer and a restaurant to the east, and townhouses on Tamarack Drive to the south.

“Commercial would be difficult, being isolated,” Community Development Director Jim Plonczynski said. “I think town homes or single-family residential is the best use for this property.”