North Aurora approves apartments where Wal-Mart once planned

North Aurora officials have approved building 300 apartments where a Wal-Mart store was planned.

Continental Properties of Wisconsin plans to buy the land and build the two-story apartments on almost 20 of 28 acres on the northeast corner of Oak Street and Orchard Road, according to an annexation agreement amendment the village board unanimously approved Monday.

The company plans to build stores and restaurants on the rest of the land.

Village President Dale Berman enthusiastically supported the idea. "We need more population to support our (commercial) businesses," he said.

There are several strip malls to the east on Oak, and to the south on Orchard Road. The land is north of the Woodman's Market grocery store.

The village first made an annexation agreement in 2008, specifying the land for business use.

In 2007, Wal-Mart wanted to build a 24-hour Supercenter on the property. Residents of nearby subdivisions protested the proposal, concerned about the traffic, light and noise that the store could bring.

The board voted against it, with then-trustee Berman saying the design of the store did not fit the site. Trustees were also unwilling to grant a requested $2.3 million, 10-year sales-tax rebate to Wal-Mart.