Clover Group proposes 125‑unit age‑restricted community; council generally approves continuing review

Clover Group presented a conceptual plan for an age‑restricted residential community on property south of the Chapel site. Russell Caplan of Clover described a 125‑unit building with 121 two‑bedroom units and four one‑bedroom units, interior corridors, elevator service and on‑site amenities. He said the product is market rate, not income restricted, and the company would pay the full tax bill for the property.

Caplan said the development is targeted to households 55 and older and that the average resident age at opening would likely be about 70. “We pay a full tax bill including the schools,” Caplan said. He added that the community typically produces lower peak traffic counts than all‑ages developments and that parking is planned at roughly 1.2 spaces per unit plus about 40 rentable garages.

Council members generally supported continuing the conversation: several aldermen said the parcel is appropriate for senior housing and noted county demographics showing sizable senior populations. Concerns included exterior materials (several aldermen noted city brick requirements), traffic during Route 31 construction and long‑term demographic changes for age‑restricted housing.

Staff said Clover and the McHenry Meadows team are coordinating detention and access because McHenry Meadows would provide internal access; county/state access restrictions likely require a write‑in, write‑out on Crystal Lake Road. The council asked staff and the developer to return with revisions and more detail; no approvals were granted at the conceptual stage.