Trillium Farm home project near West Chicago thwarted in first water/sewer effort

A plan to build an age-restricted community on the site of a former garden nursery near West Chicago has hit a stumbling block as the developer was poised to begin construction.

Pulte Homes won approval from DuPage County in February to construct an 84-house subdivision called Trillium Farm on most of the land that was part of The Planter's Palette, which closed last fall after nearly 40 years in business.

But on Tuesday, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County rejected West Chicago's request for easements to extend water and sewer lines to the development site along the east side of Purnell Road, south of Garys Mills Road.

A representative for Pulte on Wednesday declined to comment.

Before the forest preserve's decision, the expectation was that Pulte would soon start construction. Now it's unclear how the project will get water and sewer service.

West Chicago has agreed to provide water and sewer, but city officials said it's up to Pulte to install the pipes. Without an easement from the forest preserve, it's the developer's responsibility to find other options, officials said.

A DuPage spokesman said county officials are working on potential water and sewer possibilities.

If the forest preserve granted the easement, pipes would have been installed on the south side of Garys Mills and the west side of Purnell. But forest preserve commissioners denied the easement request after the district staff said the work to install the utilities would hurt the trees in the vicinity.

Before the county approved Pulte's plan two months ago, the project was strongly opposed by neighbors.

When the county board reviewed the project, Pulte representatives said the subdivision will provide more housing options for seniors. But residents who opposed the development said it will exacerbate traffic problems and harm the character of their neighborhood.