Belmont Estates Development Plans Will Be Discussed At August Plan Commission Meeting

LEMONT, IL — Discussion on the Belmont Estates multi-family residential community will be continued at the Village of Lemont's plan and zoning commission meeting in August, after a large crowd at Wednesday's meeting for the project.

Village Manager George Schafer told Patch that the hearing for the project will be "continued" until the Aug. 5 commission meeting "due to needing a larger venue to accmmodate the size of crowd attendance."

"Staff was able to present some information at the meeting and then it was continued," Schafer said. "The Village will look for a larger venue and communicate to the public over the coming weeks."

The project has faced resident opposition due to concerns about traffic and safety, incompatibility with existing neighborhood character, loss of privacy and quality of life and overcrowding of local schools.

The developer has disputed those concerns, calling the development "thoughtfully designed" cottage-style, multigenerational living that meets a need within the community.

"Lemont has few housing options for residents looking to downsize, age in place, or live near family without giving up quality and independence," said JonCarlo Abbinante of Lotus Design and Development. "Belmont Estates is designed specifically to fill that gap, with high-end cottage-style homes at a price point that makes sense for the life stage."

The development was originally planned to be discussed in March, but the public hearing was canceled. At that time, the developer wrote to the Village that after reviewing its staff report, they revised the preliminary site plan to address comments and recommendations from staff.

Then in May, the company hosted a town hall on the development, saying it drew a standing-room-only crowd and that many had positive feedback on the development. Residents pushed back against that, arguing that the crowd was so large because many in attendance opposed the development.

The development would require several key changes to zoning standards within the Village, which has raised eyebrows in the community.

The property is currently zoned for single-family detached, but the developer is seeking to rezone it to multi-family. According to Board documents, the developer originally requested a preliminary planned unit development and plat of subdivision for a 60-unit multi-family residential development with 15 four-unit buildings. That has since been revised to 52 units in 13 buildings. The plans also call for parking areas, landscaping and internal private drives.