The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday evening will consider a request from Oswego School District 308 to rezone the old Traughber Junior High School site for a proposed residential development.
The proposed development would be called Traughber Estates Oswego and include 162 owner-occupied townhomes and rental apartments.
The former Traughber Junior High School building — built originally as a high school in 1948 — would be razed as part of the proposed project. School District 308 relocated Traughber students to a new building several years ago.
The Oswego Village Board in April approved a series of ordinances deemed as “necessary precursors” for the eventual redevelopment of the approximately 12.34-acre Traughber property at the northeast corner of Route 71 and Washington Street.
The school district and developer have requested the village rezone the property to a multiple unit dwelling district. The majority of the surrounding area is zoned for single-family homes. However, there is zoning across the street to the south for an existing nursing home, according to officials. There is zoning due west of the site for an existing apartment building as well, village officials said in a report to plan commission members.
JM Developers originally presented a concept plan about a year ago that consisted of two five-story buildings, four three-story buildings and six townhome buildings for a total of 239 residential units. The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the plan.
A revised concept plan came before the Oswego Village Board in December of last year. The revised plan is for five three-story buildings and six townhome buildings for 162 residential units, village officials said.
“The Village Board directed staff to work with the school district and the petitioner to continue the development review process with the proposed plan,” Oswego Development Services Director Rod Zenner said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.