Will Western and Laurel Development be Good for Lake Forest?

The Lake Forest City Council approved a 10.6-acre residential development of homes, condos and apartments at the corner of Western and Laurel avenues, the Daily North Shore reports.

But the project isn't without its detractors, who say that the housing density will increase traffic congestion in the city.

RELATED: Western and Laurel Development Plans Approved by Aldermen

Here's what the project, which has been in the planning stages for nine years, will include, according to the Daily North Shore:

• 110 apartments housed in three buildings. There will be one-, two- and three-bedroom units with rents ranging from $1,800 to $4,200 a month.
• 42 condominiums built over two structures. There will be two- and three-bedroom units, ranging in price from $590,000 to $950,000.
• 12 single-family homes. These three- to four-bedroom houses will start at $1.3 million.

Work will begin this summer, and the apartment buildings, plus a condo building and six homes should be completed by March 2018, the report stated. The entire project is scheduled to be done by July 2019, and the village expects to receive $1.5 million in tax revenue annually from the development.

“In addition to adding diverse housing to Lake Forest, this is also an opportunity to add a 10-acre site to the tax rolls," Mayor Donald Schoenheider said at Monday's meeting. "It is within walking distance to the central business district.”

About a dozen residents, however, voiced their concerns about the project and its effect on residents.

“You have to look at the whole area," resident Linda Van Eeckhout said at the meeting. "You are putting 705 businesses, homes ... in a 35-acre area. That is density. Laurel Avenue traffic will be a nightmare.”

The development was approved with a 7-1 vote. Alderman Randy Tack was the single dissenter on the council.

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