A neighborhood’s fight to protect a forested area from development was dealt a blow as the Naperville Plan Commission voted earlier this month to recommend approval of a developer’s proposal for 21 houses on the former school site on the south side of the city.
Many plan commissioners said they voted for the project because of a pre-existing annexation agreement with Naperville School District 203 stating that if the land was not going to be used for a school, it should be developed for residential use. The land was first put up for sale in June 2004.
“We are duty-bound to approve it,” said Commissioner Derke Price.
The site, formerly Woods of Walnut Ridge, has been dubbed Caroline Woods by the developer and includes 11 acres on the east side of Keim Road between Shimer Court and University Drive.
The land, previously owned by District 203, was leased by the Naperville Park District and left many neighbors of the site under the impression it was always going to remain a park.