Developers aiming for residential subdivision north of Charlestowne Mall

With an eye toward attracting empty-nesters, developers hope to build a mix of townhouses and smaller single-family houses on a 23-acre site just north of Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles.

Representatives from the investment group STCPR Consulting Inc., Cage Engineering and Ryan Homes were at Monday's St. Charles city council's planning and development committee meeting to present a concept plan for 37 single-family houses and 92 townhouses. The residential project would be built on the Oliver-Hoffmann property, which was given that name for the development company that's owned the site since the city annexed the land in 1991.

While no action was taken at the meeting, the developers are gaining a better idea of what it will take to proceed with construction. Combined with a September appearance in front of the city's plan commission, there's no shortage of recommendations.

But there's also a desire for houses to be built on the vacant land.

"I'm a very big fan of the land use," Ward 3 Alderman Todd Bancroft said. "I think it's very compatible to the surrounding neighborhood."

The planning and development committee, made up of the city's aldermen, echoed many of the sentiments from the plan commission. They addressed the need to plan for traffic flow, the possibility of a road or walking path connecting to Charlestowne Mall and improving the look of the houses by reducing the prominence of the garages.

The land has seen several proposals through the years, including a Walmart in 2006. Should the residential subdivision become a reality, city officials are hopeful the new houses will spur commercial development in the city's eastern corridor, especially at the beleaguered Charlestowne Mall.

"Additional housing in the city of St. Charles begins to push forward additional retail or commercial in the community," City Administrator Mark Koenen said. "As new homes come to the east side of St. Charles, that perhaps makes it more attractive."