News on Virgil Development

Daily Herald
March 18, 2005

Kane planners OK La Fox concept

By Lisa Smith Daily Herald Staff Writer

The Settlements of La Fox development proposal on Wednesday cleared its first hurdle on the road to becoming a new 1,254-acre community centered around the La Fox Metra station under construction.

Kane County's regional planning commission gave the concept plan a thumbs up. It now moves to the county board's development committee for consideration.

Commissioner Ken Shepro said he liked that the plan closely mirrored the county's 2030 land use plan by incorporating a range of housing options and clustering higher-density residential areas near the train station and larger lots on the site's periphery.

It's a refreshing change from the one-acre suburban homesites that comprise typical developments in the area, Shepro said.

The proposal also rejects strip malls in favor of a walkable town square surrounded by small shops.

"This plan I think makes very artful use of the new Metra station and the old historic village of La Fox," Shepro said.

Settlements of La Fox, created by developers Wyndham Deerpoint and Town & Country Homes, includes about 1,200 homes that include single-family homes and townhouses, mixed-use "live/work" buildings, and a neighborhood geared toward empty nesters.

The site is located between Geneva and Elburn just east of Harley Road.

Regional planning commissioners also praised the developer for collaborating with the 200 members of the Concerned La Fox Area Residents over the past 3¨ years. Members of the group, all nearby residents, provided input to the density and layout of the development.

The development plans also include 526 acres - 42 percent of the total site - for parks and open space and a 13-acre elementary school site near the center of the development for the Geneva school district.