The Lockport City Council approved rezoning, final plat and an amended and restated annexation agreement for the Sadie Ridge development, formerly called Steeplechase, during its meeting on July 16. The council voted to adopt the ordinances and the annexation agreement after a public hearing and staff presentations.

The action completes a package of approvals that the council had already advanced through special use and final-plat consideration: the property will be annexed to the city and carry R-1 and R-3 zoning rather than the prior age-restricted designation that had reverted to R-1. The annexation agreement runs for 20 years, while the zoning is a permanent record unless later changed.

At the hearing, George Hegemaster, a resident who lives adjacent to the development, urged the council to reject the project. "This subdivision is a bad idea," Hegemaster said. "I think a vote for this subdivision is a vote against seniors in the community because you're taking away land that was meant for senior living and opening it up to the whole population." He also raised environmental and safety concerns: "According to the Audubon Society, once you pave over land, fireflies cannot exist anymore," and he warned the plan would create a traffic "super highway" near the park. Hegemaster said adjacent homes "have had to put in radon remediation because of the problems with the land."

Mike, city attorney, told the council the annexation step was largely procedural given prior approvals and explained the legal change involved. "There was originally an annexation agreement for Steeplechase that had age restrictions and certain types of zoning. Because that did not develop, it reverted pursuant to that agreement," he said. He said the current action makes explicit in the record that the property is no longer age-restricted and that the annexation agreement will last 20 years.

Lance, a staff member, described an engineering review memo from Shamblin Associates included for council members: "That is basically just the final engineering review memo. Everything's covered. Everything's ready to go." The memo was noted as not having been uploaded to the public agenda system but provided to council members at the meeting.

Council members discussed traffic mitigation and operational follow-up rather than reversing the approvals. One council member suggested placing a stop sign at the southern park entrance if the new road created a long straightaway that encouraged speeding; a council response noted that the public works director can adjust traffic control if concerns arise.

After the public hearing the council approved the amended and restated annexation agreement and related ordinances. The council opened and closed the public hearing as required by state annexation law before voting. Motions to approve passed; the council recorded the approvals in successive roll-call votes.

The council and staff repeatedly emphasized that the approved plans reflect engineering review and efforts to blend the new subdivision with adjacent development; staff said the developer revised the plan to reduce the number of homes from earlier proposals. The legal effect of the annexation agreement is limited to the 20-year contract terms; zoning changes remain unless altered by future council action.

The council did not adopt any new mitigation measures at the meeting beyond directing staff to monitor traffic and to implement traffic control changes if needed. No decision was made at the meeting about radon testing or remediation requirements beyond the standard building- and health-code processes that apply to new construction.

Looking ahead, the approved annexation and zoning mean the developer may proceed with the final engineering and construction permits consistent with the council approvals and applicable city regulations.