Regency Square rezoning creates controversy near Sun City

The 48-acre site known as Regency Square is owned by BO2 Investments, LLC, which has plans to sell the property to an unnamed contractor who has plans for a multi-family development in the space. The development would include single family homes, townhomes and rental apartments.

The implementation of this planned development is blocked by the current zoning of the property. Presently 30 acres are zoned “BP” for Business Park and the remaining acres are zoned “C2” commercial. BO2 is seeking a rezoning of the property to “MF2” multi-family so that BO2 will be able to sell the property to this unnamed contractor.

BO2 has disclosed that the contractor has plans to build 364 units on the site. The proposed housing mix would include 34 single family homes, 90 townhomes and 222 multi-family residential rental units.

The western edge of Regency Square is adjacent to Sun City’s Neighborhood 7. The construction and occupancy of the 364 units has caused concern among the residents of Tuliptree Lane and Black Oak Trail.

At the suggestion of the Village Board, BO2 invited some neighborhood 7 residents to what was called a “question and answer meeting” at Niko’s R&R Steakhouse in Marengo on August 17th. Village Trustee Niko Kanakaris owns the restaurant as well as 25% interest in BO2. The invitation letter stated that BO2 is planning “a beautiful, top notch, multifamily development in Regency Square” and that they wanted to share the plans and answer any questions.

Doug Dunmore, a Tuliptree Lane resident, attended the meeting and reported that “between 75 and 100 Sun City residents were present” at the presentation.

Dunmore shared that “BO2 provided a two-page brochure that included high-level goals and a rendering of the development vision.”

“BO2 also owns an additional 30 acres that they plan to sell,” said Dunmore. “This property is essentially the land from Farm Hill east and around the two medical buildings.”

The meeting’s presentation was made by BO2 Attorney Terry McKenna and CFO Carl Calandra. Trustee Kanakaris was present but did not speak.

Kathi Bandur, a Neighborhood 7 resident, voiced her concerns. “Have they done a traffic study? Have they done an impact study on the schools? Are they even aware of the amount of traffic that the Huntley High school students already present every morning and every afternoon on Farm Hill and Cold Springs with complete disregard for the speed limit?”

Dunmore and Tom Gillespie spoke at the August 25 Sun City Board meeting. Gillespie stated that “the berm proposed by BO2 won’t protect Sun City residents” from the noise of the construction or from the population density of the proposed housing. Gillespie has started a petition against the development.

Separately, Village Trustee and Sun City resident Harry Leopold was asked about the rezoning request.

He responded, “There has been no board action on the proposed rezoning and to my knowledge no proposal has been submitted.”

The minutes from the Village Board meeting of May 27 revealed that BO2 made a presentation to the board requesting that the board consider rezoning the property to multi-family which would allow BO2 to sell it to the contractor.

Board members had comments and questions for the BO2 representatives.

Trustee Leopold stated that he “had no objectives to the proposal” and stated that “if a community has only 15% of rental units, then there is no problem but anything at or around 30% would be a problem.”

Trustee Leopold also stated that he would “like lots of green space between the rental units and the single-family homes in Sun City.”

Trustee Goldman stated that she “objects to the rezoning of the property as that area is not the right location for apartments as it is too congested and Regency Parkway cannot handle more traffic.”

Trustee Westberg stated that he “wants to know what the adjacent residents living in Sun City think and suggested sending out a letter to residents.”

Trustee Holzkopf stated that she “would also like the petitioner to connect with the residents on the western side of the project.”

Trustee Kittel stated that “information regarding the rezoning should be communicated to the adjacent residents prior to going before the Plan Commission.”

Trustee Goldman stated that her “major concern with the development is that there will be too much traffic due to the high density. Regency Parkway has too much traffic now.”

Trustee Goldman stated that “this is the wrong location for this type of development.”

Sun City board member Russ Howard commented at the August 25 Sun City board meeting that “two Village Trustees are Sun City residents and should be contacted if residents wish to voice their concerns.”

Trustee Leopold can be reached at h_leopold@huntley.il.us and Trustee Goldman can be reached at rgoldman@huntley.il.us Concerns about the traffic on Farm Hill or Cold Springs Drive should be sent to Police Chief Robert Porter at rporter@huntley.il.us.

---