[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6124378,"mediaKeyId","2683389-7564886cdb70344b47bdd89553581634","parentId",2683389,"title","Cary board approves preliminary development agreement for Maplewood site after hours of public comment","audioSeconds",6746,"startMs",2265000,"endMs",9011000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2683389-7564886cdb70344b47bdd89553581634&start=2265&end=9011","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2683389-7564886cdb70344b47bdd89553581634/thumbnail_2265000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124378/Cary/McHenry-County/Illinois/Cary-board-approves-preliminary-development-agreement-for-Maplewood-site-after-hours-of-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124378-637ae18a997fce684601bd2109ee5de4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151535&Signature=b9wMuac~I5ZH9phAEzQT1mZZ65ykn~LlNUezFU9CxgVjZyn2rMWW3m1EqH0plc23iOXNP5k4H40Tzn205ZzECztMZcwsV7VUl483afRTVjkFcomL37~K-hl2OSubQClyMNGo6wyBBT1Ylux5EApgvmwL3lx~fWioUULGlvQ98rCLZvU~VXN0k-paDk4H3UcLNuAN-LxXsVa4QPc-pFlQHgEge8pN8NFPK8Eby0QRv-dZwdP-ejebs4ZC-sOOA3jo0~BIJoAgJJ5JHymYn0p-oPnhEUwnWOZHcp4VNQFSXV84Q3fxReHfW7D~ORx58DjgU3U9~o-wHfN7u9JP9BckGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Cary, IL","date","2025-03-19T01:37:49Z","article","The Village of Cary on March 18 approved a preliminary development agreement with a team led by Clark & Associates and JM Developers LLC to study redevelopment of the former Maplewood School property, directing staff to negotiate detailed terms and permit the development team to perform due diligence over an initial 150‑day period.

The move begins a formal but preliminary phase of review and does not authorize construction. Community Development Director Brian Simmons told the board the agreement would allow the developers to perform soil borings, engineering analysis and site planning and would create opportunities for public open houses, zoning hearings and a future formal redevelopment agreement to be brought back to the board.

Why it matters: The 6.5‑acre Maplewood parcel sits next to established single‑family neighborhoods south of downtown Cary and has drawn repeated proposals since the school closed in 2010. Residents filled the boardroom Wednesday to press for lower density, preserved park space and traffic and stormwater protections; many speakers said the draft concept’s five‑story apartment buildings and overall unit count were incompatible with the neighborhood. The board and developer said the preliminary step is intended to surface those issues and allow revisions before any final approvals.

Board action and what it allows
The resolution approved Wednesday authorizes a predevelopment agreement with a development team that includes Clark & Associates, Kortigan Clark Architects, JTE Real Estate Services and related partners listed in the agreement as the consenting entities. Under the approved terms, the developers may perform due diligence work such as geotechnical testing and refined site engineering; the village and developer may negotiate incentives and a formal redevelopment agreement during the study period. Simmons said the village expects any final plan to return to the village board later in 2025 if the parties reach agreement.

Developers at the meeting said the concept shown to the board is a starting point and pledged to conduct community engagement. John Kortigan of Kortigan Clark Architects called the project “a team effort” and said the developers would “go above and beyond” in outreach. Michael Pulakidis of JTE said he had arranged to attend the meeting in person to answer questions.

Public reaction and concerns
Dozens of residents spoke during a lengthy public comment period. Recurring concerns included density of the concept plan, the prospect of tall apartment buildings adjacent to single‑family yards, impacts on neighborhood traffic, parking pressure and lighting spilling into existing homes. Several residents explicitly requested that the village preserve park space or ballfields on the site; others urged for-sale single‑family or townhouse alternatives rather than a primarily rental model.

Village responses and assurances
Mayor (unnamed) and trustees repeatedly told the room the vote did not approve a final plan: it only allows staff to negotiate and the developer to test the site. The mayor and staff said the village will require standard studies — traffic, stormwater detention and zoning entitlement — and that any incentives, including TIF‑related assistance, would be negotiated later and brought back for public and board review. The mayor reiterated the village’s intention that the site include a dedicated public park and said the village will require stormwater detention and a traffic review as part of the entitlement process.

Vote and next steps
The board approved the preliminary development agreement by roll call. Recorded votes in the transcript are: Trustee Collier — yes; Trustee Rick Walrath (via Teams) — yes; Trustee Dudek — yes; Trustee Stefani — yes; Trustee Weinheimer — no; Trustee McAlpine — yes. After the vote the village will continue the developer’s due diligence and public outreach, and any formal redevelopment agreement or zoning petition would return to the board for a public hearing and vote.

What remains unresolved
Simmons told the board there are open items that will be refined during due diligence, including stormwater sizing, final unit counts, the precise mix of for‑sale vs. rental housing and any potential incentive package. He also said staff had received recent questions about an individual affiliated with one of the development entities and that staff will continue to review that matter during the predevelopment period.

The village encouraged residents to participate in upcoming open houses and zoning proceedings and said staff will post project updates via the village’s notification channels. No construction is authorized by the agreement; the earliest permanent construction the presentation estimated would begin is 2026, subject to approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03.18.2025 Village Board","oneSentenceSummary","The Village of Cary on March 18 approved a preliminary development agreement with a team led by Clark & Associates and JM Developers LLC to study redevelopment of the former Maplewood School property, directing staff to negotiate detailed terms and permit the development team to perform due diligence over an initial 150‑day period.","taxTitle","Cary, McHenry County, Illinois","taxId",70300,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6124372,"Votes at a glance: Cary board approves façade grant and waivers, advances Maplewood predevelopment talks",634,634000,-1,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2683389-7564886cdb70344b47bdd89553581634&start=634&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2683389-7564886cdb70344b47bdd89553581634/thumbnail_634000.jpg","/articles/6124372/Cary/McHenry-County/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Cary-board-approves-façade-grant-and-waivers-advances-Maplewood-predevelopment-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124372-fad9b2015abb46194f73ef8b299a5279/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151535&Signature=jbCE3S3FoPxJxqu1EdIv1g1vCNU-q~LRlW4U7pm2INKqh~l59B~FEDEwl2oXlKIr2qlgZCj1logMBfi1fKG8avU6j~bCBGAj0LzFG7nwgaGR3MJbzmjcLXGQz32C6aN0ij51C4FUD38gQSO8o~brArY3~KxJAK8cFclG54ZLL~gizsEaGdcRw5QDTh8UZisfTbxl9kIArq8pe62FuqB4ESG6RhARDzhJlmCYpjiefLAwDInp0YFy7wpK5f2rVTQmFeoP8civxLFlHdycembWYZwXx8Ye0K3raLT1sLAUWGVyrZzGAB0Yru-NlZa9UNp5SsxqMwASpf6PABcYSrAUBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cary Village Board on March 18 approved several discrete agenda items in addition to the preliminary Maplewood predevelopment agreement (see separate article).

Facade/interior‑build‑out grant for 121 West Main (LEO’s)
The board approved a resolution to enter an incentive agreement under the village’s façade improvement and interior build‑out grant program for a proposed restaurant at 121 West Main Street (referred to as LEO’s in the packet). Community Development Director Brian Simmons said the improvements eligible under the program are permanent interior and exterior work; in this case the petitioner requested support for adding a second accessible restroom required for restaurant occupancy. Simmons said the work was estimated to cost about $19,000 and, because the cost is under the $20,000 program threshold, the village could provide a matching grant of up to 50%. Simmons said the property is located within the Central Cary TIF and that TIF revenues would fund the grant. Roll call: Dudek — yes; Collier — yes; Stefani — yes; Weinhammer — yes; McAlpine — yes; Trustee Rick Walrath (via Teams) — yes. Outcome: approved.

Waiver for District 26 transportation center site (north of 3 Oaks Road and Georgetown)
The board approved a motion waiving certain plan development application requirements for a proposed transport center and maintenance facility for Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 on a site north of the 3 Oaks Road/Georgetown intersection (the parcel adjacent to the Aldi property). Simmons said the petition asked to waive the traffic study, economic analysis, environmental statement, services demand analysis, off‑site utility plan and the open house resident meeting requirement. Staff recommended the waivers because the site is not adjacent to residential parcels within the notice radius and because stormwater detention had been designed generally for the larger area; the petitioners will still comply with stormwater and permitting requirements at the permit stage. Roll call: Walrath — yes; Stefani — yes; McAlpine — yes; Weinhammer — yes; Dudek — yes; Collier — yes. Outcome: approved.

Waiver for planned development application at 243 West Main Street
The board approved a request to waive certain application requirements for a planned development application at 243 West Main Street, where the petitioners propose three small structures with attached residential units. Simmons said staff supported waivers for covenants/ easements language, the village services demand analysis, an off‑site utility plan and a drainage plan for the preliminary zoning submittal; drainage and stormwater compliance will be addressed at the permit stage. Developers present described an intent to provide on‑site parking and design that mimics turn‑of‑the‑century downtown architecture. Roll call: Stefani — yes; Collier — yes; McAlpine — yes; Weinhammer — yes; Dudek — yes; Walrath — yes. Outcome: approved.

What the votes mean
None of the approvals above authorize construction. The façade grant is a funding approval that will be implemented under program rules and TIF funding. The application waivers permit a streamlined preliminary submittal but require that developers still comply with the village’s Unified Development Ordinance and stormwater, utility and zoning rules during permitting. Each waived application item will still be scrutinized during the formal zoning/permit review and public hearing steps.

Provenance
- Façade grant motion and approval: motion introduced at 00:07:48 in the meeting and approved by roll call during the same item.
- District 26 waiver motion and approval: discussion and motion at 00:10:34; roll call recorded on the item.
- 243 West Main waiver motion and approval: motion and staff presentation around 00:15:08 followed by public comment; board approved waivers by roll call.","The Cary Village Board approved a façade/interior build‑out grant for a proposed restaurant at 121 West Main and waived several application requirements for two planned‑development projects at its March 18 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Cary board approves preliminary development agreement for Maplewood site after hours of public comment

Votes at a glance: Cary board approves façade grant and waivers, advances Maplewood predevelopment talks