Latest news with #OswegoVillageBoard
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego OKs annexation agreement for proposed residential development at Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads
The Oswego Village Board recently approved an annexation agreement and rezoning for a proposed multi-unit residential development at Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads. South Barrington-based Projades LLC proposes to build Jade Estates of Oswego with fewer units than was originally requested. The proposal is now for 52 residential units on about 8 acres on the southwest corner of Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads in a currently unincorporated part of Kendall County near Oswego. The development would consist of 20 duplex buildings and three townhome buildings with four units each, village officials said. Voting in favor were Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman and Trustees Andrew Torres, James Cooper, Jennifer Hughes, Rachelle Koenig and Karen Novy. Voting the other way was Trustee Karin McCarthy-Lange. The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission in May reviewed a site plan for the development featuring 56 duplex villas. However, commissioners had concerns with what they said was the development's relatively high density. The commission voted to deny a favorable recommendation to the Village Board on the project. After receiving the commission's feedback, the developer submitted a revised plan, Oswego Development Services Director Rod Zenner told trustees. Multiple concept plans for the site have been brought before the Village Board, including a 66 duplex unit development, village officials said. 'I appreciate you found a way to get it to 52 units. I think the design is superior to what you brought so far,' Koenig said. McCarthy-Lange objected to the overall project. 'I have not been a fan of this project from day one,' she said. McCarthy-Lange said she voted against the project when it was submitted by another developer. 'I appreciate the work you have done. I just wish it was part of a bigger plan. This is a small parcel that really should be incorporated into a larger land development,' she said. Kauffman said he, too, appreciated the developer's willingness to revise the plans. 'We appreciate that you have been flexible in working with staff to get the number down to 52-units. The end product is nice looking and will be a nice amenity for the community,' the village president said. Trustees approved a rezoning of the site from single-unit dwelling to general residence. The developer has agreed to deliver the village a deed for two acres of right-of-way that will be dedicated for the Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads roundabout. As part of the annexation agreement, the village and Projades will share a stormwater detention facility that will serve both the development and the village's need for detention related to the Wolfs Crossing improvements, village officials said.
Chicago Tribune
12-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Project to feature 113 townhomes approved in Oswego
Oswego trustees recently approved a 113-unit townhome development that was delayed after the 2008 housing crash. Sierra Tango Pine Ridge, LLC was granted approval to amend a major planned unit development and preliminary planned unit development and plat for Pine Ridge Club B which reflects a reduction in housing units. The 22.53-acre site is at the northeast and northwest corners of Mill Road and Heatherwood Drive in the village. In 2005, a final planned unit development and plat was approved for Pine Ridge Club, village planners said. The plans permitted 16 condo buildings with 16 units each for a total of 256 units. There were two sites identified for future multi-family apartment buildings with a potential 144 apartments which were not built. Four condo buildings with 16 units each and four garage structures plus a clubhouse were built. The underground utilities were installed for the site, however, construction did not proceed on the rest of the development after 2008. village officials said. Representing Naperville-based Silverthorne Homes, the contract purchaser, at the Oswego Village Board meeting was Carrie Hansen, director of Planning and Government Services for Oswego-based Schoppe Design Associates, Inc. The new proposed project includes 31 single-story attached ranch villas targeting customers who want to live on one floor, a housing need identified in the village's latest housing study, she said. The proposal also includes 82 conventional two-story townhomes. 'That's a reduction of a minimum of 79 units,' Hansen said over the original plan for the development. 'That's a density reduction from 8.5 dwelling units per acre to 5.0 dwellings per acre for this section of the project. The redesign has also resulted in the reduction of about 4.37 acres of impervious surface – quite a bit less pavement from the previous plan.' The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the new project at its April 10 meeting. As a result of the group's discussion and input from residents, 10 parking spaces were added for a total of 25 guest spots, Hansen said. 'This was done to address concerns raised by neighbors who presently have parking issues in the existing condominium development,' she said. The Village Board vote in favor of the project was unanimous. 'I for one am very happy to see a reduction in density,' Oswego Village Board member Karin McCarthy-Lange said. 'I also am excited to see the ranch-style townhomes. I think that's a nice addition.' The proposed 31 single-story attached ranch villas will be constructed in the first phase, while the 82 townhomes will be built in the second phase of the project, officials said.
Chicago Tribune
15-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego panel recommends approval of townhome development
The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission recently recommended approval of a townhome development that was delayed after the 2008 housing crash. Commissioners forwarded the recommendation for approval to the Oswego Village Board, which has the final say on the project. Representatives of Pine Ridge Club B are proposing to build 113 townhome units on about 22.53 acres at the northeast and northwest corners of Mill Road and Heatherwood Drive in Oswego. The builder is proposing to 'retrofit' a site designed for a different product with new, marketable townhome units, Oswego Assistant Development Services Director Rachel Riemenschneider said in a report to commissioners. The proposed project includes 31 single-story attached ranch villas targeting customers who want to live on one floor, a housing need identified in the village's latest housing study. The proposal also includes 82 conventional two-story townhomes, she said. Although the site is vacant, it does have underground utilities as part of the previously approved plans for Pine Ridge Club A, Riemenschneider said in the report. The final planned unit development and plat for Pine Ridge Club were approved in 2005, which permitted 16 condo buildings, with 16 units each, for a total of 256 units. There were two sites identified for future multi-family apartment buildings as well, Riemenschneider said. Construction began and the first four 16-unit condo buildings and the clubhouse were built before the 2008 recession halted the project, the village planner said. 'The site has remained undeveloped since that time,' Riemenschneider told the group. The current petitioner is proposing a site plan for Pine Ridge Club B that reduces the overall number of units, while maintaining the general layout of existing utilities and approved streets, Riemenschneider said. The proposal is to build the remainder of the neighborhood with 113 townhome units, she said. Representing Naperville-based Silverthorne Homes at the planning commission meeting was Carrie Hansen, director of Planning and Government Services for Oswego-based Schoppe Design Associates, Inc. Various uses, including attached single-unit dwellings for the future Tuscany Station and business districts, surround the site, Hansen said. 'The first four buildings for 64 units and the clubhouse were constructed on the west portion of the property and then in 2008 everything grinded to a halt,' Hansen said. 'The village's 2015 comprehensive plan identifies multi-family residential use for this property. Our request complies with this designation.' Hansen said the 'proposed plan has two townhome product lines.' 'We have 31 one-story village townhomes in the southeast portion of the property and 82 two-story conventional townhomes on the remainder,' she said. The proposal is for 113 townhome units versus the 192 remaining approved condos given the green light in the original 2005 plan, she said. 'That's a reduction of a minimum of 79 units and that does not count the undefined number of apartment units. It's a reduction in density of approximately 8.5 dwelling units per acre for the approved plan versus the 5.0 dwelling units per acre on the 22.53 acres for the proposed plan,' Hansen said. Commissioners forwarded a recommendation for approval to the Village Board. 'Hopefully, everything works out and we'll end up with a nice development where there's an eyesore of an open field right now,' Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Charlie Pajor said.
Chicago Tribune
06-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Strong showing for Democrats in races for Oswego Village Board
It appears to be a sweep for Democratic candidates for Oswego Village Board, according to the final unofficial results from the April 1 election. Six candidates were vying for three four-year terms on the Oswego Village Board, while two challengers were seeking a two-year term on the board, during the recent election. Unofficial final results for the race for the three four-year seats show Rachelle Koenig as the top vote-getter with 21.64% of the votes, followed by incumbent Trustee Karen Novy with 20.80% and James Cooper with 20.33% of the votes. All three are Democrats. The other candidates running for the four-year seats were incumbent Trustee Jennifer Jones Sinnott and former trustees Terry Olson and James Marter, II. The unofficial final vote totals show Olson with 12.77% of the votes, Jones Sinnott with 12.46% and Marter with 12.01% of the votes. All three are Republicans. 'I would like to think it's a reflection of the relationships I have developed and the work I have done on various boards and committees,' Koenig said of the outcome. 'It may also be a reflection of the fact that I strive to find common ground with people as a means to understand each other and work together, regardless of our individual beliefs and ideologies.' Koenig recently completed her tenure on the village's Economic Development Commission. 'As a business owner and a marketing strategist, I'm continuously focused on business development and growth. There is so much opportunity to create more experiences in Oswego,' she said. 'I may have been the highest vote-getter, but I wasn't the only vote-getter,' she said. 'There are residents who wanted a different outcome. So, not only am I committed to hearing from the people who are happy to see me as a trustee, I also will be seeking out conversations with those who are not. And hopefully, we can find some common ground.' Novy, who was appointed in July 2023 to fill an unexpired term on the board, said hard work was behind the successful campaign. 'I believe our canvassing and door knocking was the key to the win,' Novy said. Cooper said while he is gratified by the votes, it did take a concerted effort. 'Campaigning for these important roles is not an easy process, and these numbers could not have been achieved without the support of a community. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the efforts of the Kendall County Dems,' he said. Cooper said he intends to take what he heard from residents during the campaign to the seat he will hold on the Oswego Village Board. 'After talking with people in the community, I know they care a great deal about bringing in new businesses downtown and supporting those that currently exist,' he said. Jennifer Hughes, a Democrat, was the highest vote-getter for the two-year term on the Oswego Village Board up for election April 1, garnering 63.10% of the votes, according to unofficial final results, while Lori West, a Republican, had 36.90% of the votes. Hughes is retiring as Oswego Public Works director. She will be recognized at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, the official day of her retirement, for her years as the leader of the Public Works Department in the village. She was hired in November 2013. 'Although I am retiring from the director's position, my desire to serve Oswego remains. The trustee's position is one way that I can utilize my knowledge of what it takes for a community to be successful,' she said. Hughes will be recognized by the village as being instrumental in advancing two 'mega projects' in Oswego – the Wolfs Crossing Road widening project and for work to help bring Lake Michigan water to the village in the near future. 'A key difference between being an employee and a trustee is that while the employee can have significant input on policy, it is the Village Board who actually sets the policies. For nearly 28 years of working in municipal government, I have interacted with residents, businesses, developers and boards. The mechanics of government, from budgeting to setting policy, to approving developments and communicating with residents, is second nature. I believe this experience will help the board make good decisions,' Hughes told The Beacon-News.
Chicago Tribune
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Voters cast ballots in Republican primary for Oswego Village Board
Voters in Oswego cast ballots Tuesday in a Republican primary election for Oswego Village Board. Polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday during the primary. During the primary election for three, four-year seats on the Oswego Village Board, Republicans who went to the polls voted for three candidates, with four in the running – incumbent Jennifer Jones Sinnott, Jim Marter II, Terry Olson and incumbent Kit Kuhrt. With all precincts reporting, unofficial results from the election show Olson with 29.1% of the vote, Jones Sinnott with 28.5%, Marter with 26.5% and Kuhrt with 15.7%. The top three Republican vote-getters will move on to the April 1 general election to face three Democratic candidates – Rachelle Koenig, James Cooper and Karen E. Novy. There will also be a contest during the April 1 election to fill an unexpired two-year term on the Oswego Village Board. The candidates are Republican Lori West and Democrat Jennifer Hughes. There were only two races being voted on during primary election day on Tuesday in Kendall County – the Republican Oswego Village Board contest and the Aurora mayoral primary.
