Controversial Western Springs Townhomes May Be Delayed

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – The developer of a townhome complex in Western Springs is poised to get an extension to start the construction work.

In February, Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development received the Village Board's approval for 29 townhomes at 5600 Wolf Road, replacing a largely vacant office complex.

"They have already begun work on the property by demolishing the building, removing the hard surface and then disconnecting the utilities," Heather Valone, the village's community development director, told the board this week. "But they cannot get going on the site work until the outside agency permits have been approved."

The developer is still seeking permits from the Cook County Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The project is called Heritage Crossing.

Under the village's approval in February, McNaughton was supposed to start the construction project within six months.

Under a proposal, its new deadline is June 1. No one at this week's board meeting objected to the change; a vote is expected later this month.

Residents in the neighboring Ridgewood subdivision opposed the planned development.

They contended it would worsen flooding in a neighborhood that already suffers some of the village's worst. However, Western Springs' engineer said the development would be a "net positive" in the effort to improve drainage.

Neighbors also said the complex was too dense in a neighborhood of single-family houses.

Village Trustee Philip Nawrocki, who lives on Park Place across from the proposed development, voted no on all the zoning requests. He was joined once by Trustee Amy Avakian.