The City Council on Monday night narrowly approved a multistory senior citizen housing project over the protests of homeowners whose property will back up to the complex.
Mayor William Ottilie cast the deciding vote in an 8-2 tally. At least eight votes were needed to amend the zoning. One council member was absent.
“This will be the most massive structure in Randall Square,” said Ald. Raymond Pawlak. “It’s being built without the input of any of the surrounding homeowners.”
The project will be four stories tall and contain 104 units.
It is being built at the northwest corner of Fargo Boulevard and Kaneville Road with the backing of a referendum proposal approved by voters last fall.
The controversy over the project stems mainly from the building’s proposed height of 43.5 feet. City ordinances allow structures up to 35 feet in the zoning category.
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Community Development Director Michael Donahue said the city has had as a goal since 1989 the development of senior citizen housing.
Voters approved a proposition in November authorizing Geneva Township to seek out a site for senior housing and issue up to $8.8 million in revenue bonds to finance the project.
The township is proposing to buy the 9.3-acre site from Westway Construction Corp. of St. Charles, which developed the surrounding Randall Square subdivision.