Planned Darien Duplexes 'Upscale': Developer

DARIEN, IL – The 17 proposed duplexes in a Darien neighborhood will be "upscale" and a "positive addition" to the community, the developer says.

The developer, Woodland Glen Development, is planning the housing for the south side of the 2900 block of 87th Street. Woodridge is to the west.

Through a public records request, Patch received documents Wednesday from the developer's application to the city.

Woodland Glen described the housing as "an upscale, maintenance-free residential community, featuring larger ranch-style homes with full basements, featuring both 'look out' and 'walk out' options."

The 7.3-acre site includes two older houses that the developer plans to demolish. The houses are served by wells and septic systems, but Woodland Glen says it will connect to public utilities.

The developer is asking the city to change the single-family zoning to multifamily. A zoning hearing is planned for next week.

In its application, Woodland Glen contends the development will not hurt the essential character of the neighborhood.

According to the developer, the trend of major streets such as 87th is toward commercial or higher-density multifamily development.

"Woodland Glen will therefore offer the best transitional residential zoning from the much higher densities likely to come from the Woodridge zoning areas immediately to the west," the developer said in the application.

A traffic consultant hired by the developer said the subdivision's traffic would have a "minimal impact" on the roadway network.

The city has set a hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission for 7 p.m. next Wednesday at City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road.

Earlier this week, Patch published a story about the scheduled hearing on the duplex proposal. Some residents voiced opposition online to the development, saying they believe Darien does not need more multifamily housing.

The last major controversy involving multifamily housing in Darien was two years ago.

In May 2021, Mayor Joseph Marchese cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of a controversial apartment complex. In so doing, the City Council rejected the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission, which voted 7-1 against the proposal.

The debate over the project was heated, with at least a couple of aldermen upset over written comments they deemed derogatory toward renters. One said some comments came off as racist and classist.