Houses On Keller's Farmstand Property? Board Gives Green Light

PLAINFIELD, IL — More than 150 acres of land belonging to Keller Farm will be annexed into Plainfield, and the farmland will be turned into single-family homes and townhomes, the Village Board decided.

Trustees voted Aug. 7 to begin drafting the ordinances needed to annex the 152.9 acres of land at the northwest corner of Lockport Street and Wallin Drive. Those ordinances were brought before the Board again Sept. 18, when trustees voted 4-3 in favor of executing an annexation agreement for Keller Farm.

Trustees Patricia Kalkanis and Brian Wojowski voted in opposition, while trustees Richard Kiefer, Cally Larson, Tom Ruane and Margie Bonuchi, along with Mayor John Argoudelis, voting for it. Trustees voted the same way in formally annexing the property and approving a special use permit, re-zoning amendment, site plan review and preliminary plat.

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

In researching the project and the effect it would have on the community, Argoudelis said he spoke to the president of the Liberty Grove homeowner's association, who said the new development could enhance the subdivision's roadways, and with Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202.

"I was somewhat surprised to know that the school district is not opposed at all, and they feel this would fit in well with their plans going forward," Argoudelis said before sharing his vote, adding, "I think I owe it to people to give my thoughts as to how you make a tough decision."

Lennar Corporation, the developer that would oversee building the "Keller Farm" subdivision, reached out to the village in late 2021 to begin the process. The plan is to construct 322 single-family detached houses, 83 townhouses in 18 buildings, a nine-acre commercial parcel and two parks. "Extensive" walking trails and stormwater management areas are also planned.

"In addition to the residences proposed here, there will be a commercial node on the corner," Argoudelis said. "I think that residents west of town and I think most people on this Board would like to see more commercial retail development, more types of end-users that we like to see in Plainfield, and there will be a commercial node here which could spur [commerce] between the river and this particular spot."

He added: "We certainly need to focus on diversifying our tax base. ... We cannot put this burden on our homeowners. We need to focus on industrial dispensaries, gaming in a focused way, and certainly commercial retail when and if we can get it."

New housing in Plainfield has been the topic of several Village Board meetings recently. On Oct. 2, trustees voted to deny a special use permit for a developer to build an 84-unit apartment complex and mixed-use development at the southeast corner of West Village Center Drive and South Van Dyke Road, near Settlers' Park.

RELATED: Board Nixes Apartment Development By Settlers' Park, Village Hall