Yorkville braces for new round of development

YORKVILLE -- A developer's plan that would eventually extend the city's northern border to Baseline Road could come up for City Council action by early next year.Inland and Mid-America have plans to develop the 150-acre Runge Property at Route 47 and Baseline Road on the Kane-Kendall border into areas of commercial, townhomes and single-family houses.

Gary Weber, a land planner representing the developers, said the commercial area would include enough space for a "big box" type of retail store. The property also would include a bike trail running northeast to southwest through the property and a park site in the southwest corner.The plan calls for some 153 townhome units and 189 single-family houses.

There will likely be more discussion on the proposal for annexation and a zoning change from agricultural to commercial and residential in January.

While there are still parcels between the city's current northern border and the development site, the Runge property would be annexed once those remaining properties are brought in to the city.

The City Council Committee of the Whole this week reviewed two new concept plans for development on the city's south and west sides.

Triangle Investments has plans for some 40 single-family houses and a commercial area in its Corner Stone development at Greenbriar Road and Route 47. The development would be east of the Greenbriar subdivision.

Gregg Ingemunson, attorney representing Triangle, said the project would include average lots of more than 12,600 square feet in+ the residential component.

In a separate project planned for Fox Road west of the city, Midwest Development would like to build some 187 houses on 103 acres. The parcel is southwest of the Hoover Outdoor Education Center, which the Kendall County Forest Preserve District and the city of Yorkville recently agreed to acquire over the next several years from the Chicago Council Boy Scouts of America.

Alderman Larry Kot said he believes the city should follow its comprehensive plan calling for estate-sized lots in the area.

As proposed, the development would have a density of 1.8 units per acre. The comprehensive plan calls for a density of 1.5 units and acre.

"I think the density is the big issue here," Kot said.

Ingemunson, who also represents Midwest Development, said the average lot size in the development would be 14,500 square feet.