Developers propose 72 townhomes at former car-dealership site on Higgins Road

D.R. Horton representatives gave a courtesy review June 9 of plans to build 72 townhomes on about 6 acres south of Higgins Road, on property formerly occupied by Lexus and Hyundai dealerships.

The petitioner, Eric Prechtel of the law firm Rosanova & Whitaker, said the site has been vacant “for about 7 or 8 years” and that the company’s proposal is to “eliminate the eyesore, clean up the property and reposition for a townhome development.” Prechtel said the project would include two access points (from Higgins and from Evanston), rear-loaded units, sidewalks and a central detention area, and that “we've added 6 additional guest parking spaces … that brings the total guest parking spaces to 24.”

Village staff and trustees asked detailed questions about stormwater, parking, street ownership and maintenance. Village staff member Jen answered that there was “No. There is not” an existing detention basin on the property and that a basin is required “per today's standards for the stormwater ordinance.” Project manager Matt Kromick described the proposed basin as “a typical vegetated, dry basin, storage system” that would fill during heavy rainfall and slowly release water into the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District system.

Why it matters: the site sits along a mixed-use corridor of Higgins Road and borders multifamily and commercial properties; trustees and staff pressed the developer for details that affect neighborhood impacts, long-term maintenance and public liability. Prechtel said an HOA will manage common-area maintenance and that a dormant special service area (SSA) would be established “so in the event the HOA is not keeping up with its maintenance obligations, the village would always have the option to step in, complete the maintenance themselves, and then be reimbursed through a tax on the property.”

Project details provided at the courtesy review include three floor plans (two- and three-bedroom options with dens/variants), unit sizes “a little over 1,600 square feet to over 1,800 square feet,” two-car garages for each unit and additional driveway spaces. Prechtel said the product presented is similar to D.R. Horton communities in the Chicago suburbs and described it as one of the company’s “higher end” products with masonry, varied siding and multiple roof peaks.

Trustees raised several practical concerns: whether the private streets would later be dedicated to the village (Trustee Mills urged caution), whether basements or sump pumps would be required (staff said there are partial lower levels rather than full basements and the developer said they would confirm sump-pump requirements with engineers), and whether recreational facilities or backyards would be provided (the developer said there are no recreational facilities proposed and the units do not provide traditional backyards).

No formal approvals or votes were taken; the appearance was a courtesy review and Prechtel acknowledged that final project approval or denial “shall only occur through official Village Board action.” Trustees asked that final submittals include detailed landscaping plans, engineering on stormwater/basin design and clarifications about parking and maintenance responsibilities before any rezoning or approvals are considered.

The petitioner said the developer will return with preliminary and final plans; staff and trustees indicated landscaping buffers would be particularly important along the eastern (Valley Produce) and southern property lines. The village also noted that the application would require rezoning from B-2 commercial to a residential designation before any permit stage.

The courtesy review concluded with staff and trustees thanking the petitioner and requesting additional engineering and landscaping details for future hearings.