Lemont Village Board Approves Timber Run Subdivision

LEMONT, IL — At its June 10 meeting, the Lemont village board approved the proposed Timber Run subdivision with a vote of 5-1. Trustee Dave Maher was the sole "no" vote to the development.

The project includes the construction of 42 detached single-family homes and 52 duplex units, for a total of 94 dwelling units. The developer for the project is Taylor Morrison of Illinois, Inc., and the property is located at 100 W. New Ave. and 40 Timberline Drive, which is north of 127th Street and east of I-355.

Maher, who was the sole no vote, had several concerns about the development, including masonry on the homes and a privacy wall that could be constructed between homes that are part of the new subdivision and existing Timberline homes.

According to board documents, the homes closest to Timberline would be single-family two-story homes with square footage between 2,400 and 3,400. The duplex homes would be located in the western portion of the subdivision and would be ranch- and ranch-with-loft-style homes between 1,600 square feet and 2,400 square feet. There would also be a neighborhood park in the center of the subdivision after agreement of the Lemont Park District.

At the meeting, Mayor John Egofske said the price tag on the homes in the development would be near $500,000.

At previous board meetings and committee of the whole meetings, several residents had voiced opposition to the project, citing concerns of safety and traffic, especially near the proposed entrance of the new subdivision where it meets a steep hill on Timberline Drive.

The village did its own independent traffic study and also had Taylor Morrison do a study as well.

"The traffic volumes didn't warrant a stop sign and the initial recommendation was to do some traffic calming and striping and reflective markers," Community Development Director Jason Berry said. However, the village elected to put in a 4-way stop sign after discussion with residents.

"Sometimes it's not the ideal situation, and we hear that," Egofske said. "What we're trying to do is make it the best it can be."

Previously, the land where Timber Run will be built was approved for the Vistancia subdivision. That subdivision did not go through as planned, and that project was 102 acres. The Timber Run subdivision will develop 69.18 acres, while the western 28-acre parcel was donated to the village of Lemont.

At the June 10 meeting, Mayor John Egofske said there are currently no plans to develop the 28 acres. While it could be used for future development, he said there are no plans for the forseeable future.

"If there were good plans for it...[Taylor Morrison] wouldn't be donating 28 acres if they thought there was something good that could go on there," Egofske said.

Egofske said the village wanted to take control of the land in case there are future development opportunities.

"We wouldn't be doing our jobs as village elected officials, not to take control of that land," he said.

The next steps for the subdivision will be to go through engineering, and it will then go to the planning and zoning commission, and then the village board. There is not a set date yet for when the project will be back in front of the board.