Supportive housing proposal clears first hurdle in Palatine
The developer which unsuccessfully sued Palatine in 2013 after officials rejected a proposed housing development for people with disabilities near downtown will be back before the village council next week with a similar plan on the north side of town.
The village council is expected to take their first look at a plan to build a 44-unit, three-story development called Spruce Village at 498 Spruce Drive, near Rand and Hicks roads, during their meeting March 7.
The plan was created by Chicago-based Up Development, the same company that sued the village after council members voted 4-2 against their plan to build Catherine Alice Gardens, a proposed 33-unit affordable apartment building at 345 N. Eric Drive that would have served people with disabilities. The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in July 2014.
Spruce Village cleared its first hurdle last week when the village's plan commission gave it a unanimous recommendation, said Palatine Director of Planning and Zoning Ben Vyverberg.
While Up's previous proposal inspired lengthy public debate, Vyverberg said just one person spoke out about the new plan at last week's meeting.
Vyverberg said the plan is compliant with all village codes except for in number of parking spaces. The village requires two parking spaces for each unit, but the plan only calls for 45 parking spaces.
However, Vyverberg said, the developer provided testimony that residents of similar housing developments don't need two parking spaces.
If the village council approves the plan and the development later changes to a more typical apartment complex, it would come back to the village council.
The undeveloped land Spruce Village would be built is owned by the village. Up plans to buy the 1-acre site from the village if the council votes in favor of their proposal. The land is located behind the Firestone Complete Auto Care at 1980 N. Rand Road and the Tore & Luke's restaurant at 1960 N. Rand Road.
Under the proposal, the apartments will have on-site staff including a live-in residential manager, a property manager and social service case managers who will work with residents. Tenants will include adults with disabilities who are capable of living independently and earn less than 60 percent of the area median income. They'll pay no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.
A representative from Up Development could not be reached for comment.