Despite pleas from residents to save a wooded site, the Naperville City Council Tuesday approved a developer’s plan to build 21 homes on 11 acres the city’s south side.
The development, called Caroline Woods, on the east side of Keim Road between Shimer Court and University Drive, became controversial because the site, previously owned by Naperville School District 203, had been leased by the Park District and used as a park with paths through the forest for years.
Neighbors failed earlier year in their effort to buy the land from the school district for $3.8 million, which included financial contributions from the Will County Forest Preserve District and the Naperville Park District. Instead, the school district opted for a higher bid of $5.6 million from a local developer.
The project includes an extensive tree preservation plan as well as a forest preservation plan that was urged by the Conservation Foundation in Naperville.
The forest preservation plan, which covers mostly the southeast end of the site, protects the ground floor.
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“[The forest and tree preservation plan] is a good gesture and the right thing to do,” said Councilman David Fiore.