The Oswego Village Board in a 5-1 vote recently approved a pre-annexation agreement, rezoning and planned unit development plan for Avanterra, a $40 million rental housing development planned in the village.
Representatives of Continental Properties are seeking annexation of 23 acres into the village for 149 built-for-rent single- and multi-family housing units at the future redesigned Wolf’s Crossing and Douglas Road intersection in a currently unincorporated area of Kendall County near Oswego.
The Village Board approved revised concept plans subject to several conditions for the project on May 4.
The developer since then made numerous changes to the project, returned to the Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission, submitted engineering and developed a planned unit development plan, Oswego Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said.
“Ultimately when the developer achieves some continuity at some point, they will come back for full annexation,” Di Santo said in his report to trustees.
Voting in favor of the final plans were Trustees Jennifer Jones Sinnott, Kit Kuhrt, Terry Olson, James Marter and Tom Guist. Voting the other way was Trustee Brian Thomas.
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The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based developer’s plans are for a mixture of one- and two-story single-family detached units with one to four bedrooms as well as two duplexes and one triplex, village planners said. The plan includes some 10 acres of open space and two detention ponds, as well as a clubhouse with a fitness center and pool and a dog park.
The units would be developed on a single parcel rather than individual lots and be under single ownership and management, Oswego Community Development Planner Natalie Zine said in a report to trustees.
Oswego resident Russell Pietrowiak told the board he has mixed feelings about the project.
“On the positive side the developer is dedicating a right-of-way and making contributions that will help with the Douglas Road and Wolf’s Crossing Road improvements, and adding new residences to Oswego is good for businesses and the tax base,” Pietrowiak said.
However, he does have concerns about rental housing in general and variances involved with the project including the village’s approval of streets narrower than regulations. The streets will be privately owned and maintained and on-street parking will be banned, according to village documents.
“Hopefully this doesn’t lead to parking on the street. I know (on-street parking) has been banned but we’ll have to actually see how it plays out. Being a private street enforcement is unclear,” he said.
“I bring these concerns to your attention in large part because I don’t believe this is the level of density or product that fits in well with the surrounding area. It could potentially have a negative impact on the quality of life and housing values of existing residences,” Pietrowiak told the board.
“I am concerned about what precedent this potentially sets for the Wolf’s Crossing Road corridor where much of the land is for sale and development is occurring,” he said.
Darice Nichols said she has lived in the area for 52 years and is concerned about rental housing, drainage at the site and increased traffic due to the development.
“We have (stormwater runoff) problems out there as it is plus there is (heavy) traffic. When the schools let out, sometimes we can hardly get out from Douglas onto Wolf’s Crossing Road,” she said.
Trustee James Marter said he wanted to make a general response concerning the variances for the project.
“This is a very unique product where they are building full houses to rent them out. I know it is something that is growing throughout the country in Phoenix and Florida,” Marter said. “This is a unique property with unique design. In general, this is an exception to the rule.”
The developers said there is “no low-income” or “affordable housing” component to the project. Rents will be based on fair market value, they said. The current projection for rents range from $1,800 at the low end to just over $3,000, the developers said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.