Plainfield Will Get Over 250 New Single-Family Homes

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield will get new family homes in the near future after the village board approved an annexation agreement during its meeting last month for a residential development that will expand the village westward.

Mayor Michael Collins said village officials have been discussing the 98-acre development, known as the Greenbriar development, for a few years now. The development will bring about 278 single-family homes of various sizes to a plot of land between 143rd Street and Route 126 east of Steiner Road, according to the village website.

Collins said this development will not only attract new residents, but it’s also a significant step to expand the village.

The development will require sewer and water lines to be extended to the plot of land that’s between 143rd Street and Route 126 east of Steiner Road. According to the plan, the development will include three different neighborhoods, each with a slightly different average lot size to accommodate different residential needs for future residents.

The board voted 5-1 in favor of the development, with Trustee Kevin Calkins being the sole vote against it. During a Committee of the Whole meeting on Jan. 11, Calkins said that while he likes the ranch-style homes, he is not in favor of the smaller lot sizes.

Collins echoed this and expressed his concerns regarding the size of the lots and how they might not be large enough, but, he also said that going by the kind of residents they want to attract, larger properties will not be the best idea.

Other board members said they feel Greenbriar would be a good attraction for first-time home buyers and older residents who want to downsize. Trustee Cally Larson said the diversity of housing stock fits with the surrounding neighborhood.

"I think it's well needed," she said.

Trustee Harry Benton said the different housing options would help the village attract both younger residents looking for a starter home and older residents looking to downsize. Collins said Plainfield hasn’t seen a major project like this in a while, and previous village boards had been reluctant to approve such developments. He added that Plainfield needs more housing options in order to continue growing.

With more homes, Collins said, the village will attract new businesses. He said construction can be expected to begin by early summer.

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