Plainfield Farm Poised To Sell, Could Become New Subdivision

PLAINFIELD, IL —A 152.9-acre plot of farmland near downtown Plainfield could be annexed into the village and be turned into a new subdivision, documents show.

The unincorporated land at the corner of Lockport Street and Wallin Drive is currently home to a farmhouse and several agricultural structures owned by Keller's Farmstand, which sells sweet corn, apples and a variety of other fresh fruits and vegetables.

UPDATE: Plainfield Board Advances Plans To Annex Keller Farm, Build Houses

A public hearing for the annexation is on the agenda for Monday night's Village Board meeting, where trustees will vote on whether to direct the village attorney to prepare the necessary ordinances to authorize the annexation agreement as an extension of Plainfield.

The farm is under contract to be sold to Lennar Corporation, the developer that would oversee building the subdivision, Plainfield Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx told Patch. In order for the farm to sell, the Village Board has to approve the project, he said.

Proulx said there could be a proposal in the future to tear down the farmstead, but until then, Keller's Farmstand will continue to operate.

"There's not an immediate disruption on the horizon for them," he said.

The business also runs a farmstand in Naperville and one in Oswego, just west on Route 126, the latter being home to an eight-acre corn maze and fall festivities each year.

The agenda for Monday's meeting is the second to last step before the subdivision project is approved, according to Proulx. Final project approval will likely be on the Village Board agenda in two weeks.

The proposed plan for the subdivision, to be called "Keller Farm," includes building 322 single-family detached houses, 83 townhouses in 18 buildings, two parks, "extensive" walking trails and stormwater management areas.

The residential portion of the development would take up 144.2 acres, while 21.3 acres would be used for stormwater management and landscaped open area, 28.7 acres for external and internal rights-of-way, and 5.4 for two multi-use parks, documents show.

The smallest of lots for single-family homes would be a minimum of 7,875 square feet and be located nearest to Lockport Street and Wallin Drive to maximize walkability to the commercial downtown area, according to a report. Mid-size lots would be a minimum of 8,125 square feet, with the majority being located on the east side of the development, and the largest would be a minimum of 9,017 square feet adjacent to Liberty Grove.

"Staff deems that the property is clearly a logical extension of the Village boundary," reads a report from Proulx and Rachel Riemenschneider, an associate planner.