Comments on Residential Development

Yesterday at the village board meeting we had a public hearing on the Ryland homes parcel which is South of Dawn Marie and running down to Route 120. The project will bring our sewer to the corner of Wilson and 120 and trigger a large commercial and industrial park in the area bounded by Fish Lake Road, Route 60, Bacon Road and Route 120. At the public hearing there were some questions about the Ryland project which has evolved over time into something a little more palatable to the village.

One of the questions was about when are we stopping development? How can we continually approve new development every meeting? While these questions were out of left field factwise, since the village has NOT approved a new development in over a year and a half. As an aside I would point out that in the last few years the village has approved 2 new developments and 2 add on's in the last 3 years. The largest of these projects was the 180 senior oriented homes for Pulte on Curran Road and 120 and the first senior project in the area.

Lets face the facts, the village is on the downside of residential development. Over the last few years I have consistently spoken out with the same thoughts and premises about residential development. Let me reiterate them:

• Any residential development must meet and serve the large vision established by the village's comprehensive plan.
• It must have a missing need for a type of housing in the village (estate residential, senior housing etc.).
• It better be awfully good for the village with some large amenity and or benefit.

I have been repeating this at the village hall, in speeches to the chamber of commerce, at presentations to other taxing bodies and its been written about in the papers. But actions speak louder then words, so take some time and look at the residential development that has been done. Evaluate it, understand it and then realize the village is indeed sticking to the big goals in our comprehensive plan. So come in out of left field, and join the progress the village is making towards making the area a better place to live.