52-Unit Development Approved In Busy Wolf's Crossing Corridor

OSWEGO, IL — Plans are moving forward for a new development consisting of 52 duplexes and townhouses in the busy and currently under-construction Wolf's Crossing corridor in Oswego.

The Village Board voted 5-1 Tuesday night, with Trustee Karin McCarthy-Lange in opposition, to grant a special use permit for the preliminary and final planned unit development and subdivision plat for Jade Estates of Oswego, located at the southwest corner of Wolf's Crossing Road and Douglas Road.

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted in September to recommend denying approval. The Village Board voted almost a year ago, in May, to approve the annexation and rezoning of the property.

"The plan that the Board approved last May or June is essentially the same plan that is before you now, now that it's been fully engineered," Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said. "There would need to be a compelling reason not to move forward with this plan at this time since it's essentially the same plan that's already been approved."

The development proposal outlines 40 duplex units and 12 townhouse units, generally oriented around a rectangular-shaped loop drive with two entrances on Tern Road. No entrances will be on Wolf's Crossing.

The housing project also plays a role in the project to widen Wolf's Crossing Road. The concept plan called for a shared stormwater detention facility at the north end of the site, to be used both by the developer and the village for its needs related to road improvements.

Plans call for three four-unit townhouses on the south side of the proposed "Tooley Drive." The remaining units, traditional duplexes, have a minimum lot width of 26.5 feet, but most lots measure 34 feet or wider, according to village documents. Minimum setbacks are 20 feet for the front of all units and 25 feet for all but four units, which would back up to a detention pond and have a setback of 20 feet.

McCarthy-Lange, who has been opposed to the project from the beginning, said she is concerned about traffic in a busy corridor and believes the development to be too high-density.

Trustee Rachelle Koenig noted she doesn't like the "starkness of this," citing no park where children can play.

"Is it ideal? Not really, but I know it fits within the comprehensive plan," she said. "It does comply with what we've set out."