The village of Sugar Grove is continuing to engage in talks with Crown Community Development, even after plans for multi-use development near the intersection of I-88 and Route 47 were withdrawn in February. Trustees indicated at its July 2 meeting that the village is in the process of setting up meetings with the company.
Crown had asked the village to rezone the 760 acres, which is currently zoned residential, to multi-use, which would allow for multi-family, commercial and warehouse development. The company withdrew the zoning request after widespread community opposition.
“They’ve indicated that sometime later this month, they plan to present some revisions, an update,” Village Administrator Brent Eichelberger said of Crown Community Development. “We don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like.”
Eichelberger made mention of the challenges the previous plans presented to the village.
“There’s been some progress on the water system, and I think it’s fair to say that—based on the plan they previously presented—that there’s an understanding between their engineer [and] the village engineers to what water system improvements would need to be made based on that plan,” he said. “There’s also an understanding if that plan changes, it may change the water needs and so the water system improvements may also change.”
Joseph Wolf, a resident of Sugar Grove and a former trustee for the Sugar Grove Village Board, expressed his view of the village’s decision to continue talks with Crown Community Development.
“It seems like whether we want that or not, that’s the thing that’s in the favor now,” he said.
Wolf acknowledged that Sugar Grove may be tempted to bring in warehouses because “there’s money to be made.”
“If you turn it down, somebody will take it,” he said.
Wolf urges the village board to secure the best deal it can.
Eichelberger said he hopes the village will have more of an update later this month.
Gordon Road corridor study update
Also at the meeting, officials were provided an update on the study that would extend Gordon Road south toward the village of Montgomery.
A kickoff meeting was recently held between representatives for Sugar Grove, Montgomery, Kane County and Kendall County.
Village President Sean Michels said that getting representatives from the cities of Aurora and Yorkville to join in is a possibility.
If extended, the village envisions the Gordon Road corridor serving as a bypass for Route 47 and Orchard Road.
Michels said the Gordon Road corridor could also be targeted for a future Metra train station.
Engineering Enterprises Inc. has found grant funding and is currently working on the study.
Portable electronic message signs discussed
Trustees were also briefed on the village’s purchase of two portable electronic message signs to help inform motorists of water main breaks, special events, construction projects and other village notifications as needed.
The signs feature an LED display on a steel trailer powered by both solar panels and batteries.
Sugar Grove will pay Dana Safety Supply $32,738 for the signs. The village had budgeted $30,000 for this replacement.
Brad Merkel, utilities supervisor for the village, said it would be better cost-wise to buy two signs rather than one as originally projected.
Other business
· A motion was passed authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Tollway for construction of the Interstate 88 and Sugar Grove Parkway interchange project. Board action allows the village to convey a parcel adjacent to the future ramp connecting westbound Interstate 88 to the Sugar Grove Parkway exit ramp.
· Trustees voted to approve the village’s 2019 pavement marking program. The village has budgeted $5,000 to pay for 30,000 linear feet of remarking along Main Street and Rolling Oaks Road.
· A motion was passed securing an amended intergovernmental agreement for administrative hearings with the village of Montgomery. Board action broadens the local powers allowable within the administrative hearing process and limits participation to Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
· Officials authorized a change order request in the amount of $55,010 for the 2019 Motor Fuel Tax project. The added funding will pay for Americans with Disabilities Act ramp and curb work that is needed in the Walnut Woods subdivision, along with additional patching.
· The village board adopted a policy allowing for adherence to the Illinois Open Meetings Act with regard to verbatim recordings and meeting minutes.