Campton Hills hearing on Headwaters Academy draws neighbors' safety, traffic and covenant concerns

Campton Hills — Petitioners for Headwaters Academy urged the Village of Campton Hills Planning and Zoning Commission on June 18 to approve a special-use permit to operate a small, nature-based microschool on a five‑acre parcel on Hampton Hills Road, while dozens of neighbors opposed the proposal over traffic, safety, septic and covenant concerns.

Headwaters Executive Director Sarah Elliott told the commission she and three other parents incorporated Headwaters Academy in fall 2024 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and plan “a small community-rooted micro school” serving “approximately 25 students” for the 2025–26 school year. Elliott said the site includes a single-family home, barn, fenced pastures and gardens and that the school would work with the local fire department and the Illinois State Board of Education on health and safety requirements. “This is not a commercial enterprise or a business. This is a mission driven non for profit,” Elliott said.

The hearing focused on detailed neighborhood objections and technical questions about infrastructure and use. Dozens of residents who live adjacent to or near the property described the area as a rural, equestrian community with covenants that, they said, restrict nonresidential uses. Neighbors raised these recurring concerns: the safety of student drop-off on Hampton Hills Road (posted 50 mph), the capacity and suitability of a residential septic system for daily school use, the potential for off‑site parking and traffic spillover onto narrow subdivision streets, and risks to horses and bridle‑path users if the property were used for events.

Several speakers cited the subdivision covenants recorded June 12, 1972 (document no. 1229233) and urged the commission to consider enforcement or legal constraints. Neighbors also said the property owner closed on the parcel in October 2024 and that Headwaters applied quickly for nonprofit status and had promoted the school online and held a public open house before receiving local approvals.

Supporters and educators at the hearing described Headwaters as a microschool and emphasized small size and environmental stewardship. Co‑founder Dana Merck said Headwaters is “a privilege and a labor of love” and that the program is focused on children who need a small‑school environment. Teacher Kazim Kuttab, who said he is one of the proposed instructors, asked the commission to consider how the village defines “school” versus ordinary residential activity and insisted Headwaters intends to “draw out the best in our kids.”

Children and parents spoke in favor as well. Twelve‑year‑old Ruby Elliott said she plans to attend and described the school as “a quiet small school where we can spend time outside.”

Commissioners and staff asked specific follow‑ups. Chair Frederick and other commissioners pressed petitioners for a clear enrollment cap and for documentation on septic and fire‑safety capacity. Elliott and a co‑founder said the petitioner’s working cap is 25 students (they described 30 as an upper ceiling) and acknowledged that the state and fire code determine some occupancy and safety thresholds — one petitioner said the fire code allows up to 100 in some circumstances. Petitioners also said they had added a circular drive and would support a “right‑turn only” requirement from the driveway to reduce conflicts at peak drop‑off times.

On septic questions, petitioners said they had contacted county health services and had been advised that municipalities typically request a septic assessment; the petitioner said the village would need to request a private inspection be paid for by the applicant and submitted to the county health department for review. That procedure was described to the commission as the usual mechanism for verifying septic capacity for higher occupancy uses.

Neighbors raised additional, site‑specific safety issues: Mill Creek runs along the west side of the parcel and several speakers noted low spots that flood in heavy rains; others described a pond near the rear of the house and existing wire fencing that they said would need repair or replacement to protect children. Horse owners emphasized that a public event or increased daily visitors could expose equine properties to liability and urged the commission to consider equine safety and trespass risks tied to the neighborhood bridle path.

Petitioners said parts of the property are already fenced and that they are prepared to add fencing where necessary and to work with neighbors on safety measures. They also said Headwaters had removed some promotional event listings from its website while the petition proceeded and that their intent was not to commercialize the parcel.

No formal vote on the special‑use request occurred at the June 18 meeting. The commission asked the petitioner to provide clarified plans and documentation on maximum enrollment, parking management, septic capacity and any proposed fencing or circulation changes before the commission makes a decision.

The hearing drew sustained public participation and strong views on both sides: proponents framed Headwaters as a small, mission‑driven option that would promote environmental stewardship; opponents described community character, safety and covenant enforcement as reasons to deny a nonresidential use within the subdivision.

The commission did not announce a date for a decision. Petitioners and neighbors may provide additional materials and the commission indicated it would request technical reviews (for example septic inspection and fire‑safety review) as part of its deliberations.