Virgil development newsVirgil development newsKane County Chronicle
November 3, 2005
By TOM SCHLUETER
GENEVA -- Virgil village officials on Wednesday showed off their first-ever comprehensive plan, which they will present to the public on Nov. 15.
The audience was members of the Kane County Regional Plan Commission, who were impressed with the plan that anticipates the village will be home to 5,700 residents in 2020.
"As a village, we're trying to do the right thing," village President Mark Marion said.
The plan calls for pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, conservation design and a philosophy of growing from the center out, instead of a series of isolated subdivision.
"Very impressive," said commission Chairman Mary Ochsenschlager.
Currently, Virgil has about 300 residents.
However, located at the intersection of Route 64 and Meredith Road, it sits squarely in the path of future development.
Some projections have shown the population could reach 15,000. The plan calls for about 8,000 residents by 2030.
The village put together a comprehensive plan task force, which has working for the last 15 months.
Task force member Jim Sauber said the plan calls for slow, steady growth. He said he does not expect more 150 homes to be built a year.
"The key point is the velocity. This thing is not going to explode," Sauber said.
The plan calls for installing wastewater treatment services.
While businesses wanting to move to Virgil will want sanitary sewer service, the ability to pay for the infrastructure sometimes requires an ever-expanding system, Ochsenschlager said.
"You could get caught up in something you can't afford," she said.
Developers have been contacting local land owners to see if they want to sell out, Marion said.