Village board voices support for revised Hummel Trails plan; asks developer to refine townhome elevations and connective paths

Lennar Corporation representatives presented a revised concept plan on Aug. 19 to the Village Board of Oswego that replaces previously approved senior housing and an assisted-living facility with market-rate townhomes and modified single-family lots for Hummel Trails neighborhoods 12 and 13.

The change affects two parcels bisected by a creek: Neighborhood 12, on about 15.99 acres, would include 153 townhomes; Neighborhood 13, on about 23 acres, would include 67 single-family lots. The developer said the revised plan increases the community open space to about 32 acres (roughly 40% of the site), retains a 4.5-acre commercial corner, and features naturalized stormwater basins, paths and a pedestrian bridge linking the neighborhoods.

The plan presented by John McFarland of Lennar and shown by land planner Zach Lukes reported average lot sizes of roughly 11,600 square feet (about 400 square feet smaller than the earlier concept). Lennar said single-family house sizes would generally run from about 2,200 to 3,000 square feet and include full basements; the company estimated likely sale prices in a range the presenter described verbally as three- to six-hundred thousand dollars (presenter wording: "$350,000 to $650,000").

The changes would replace an earlier concept approved with the 2008 annexation agreement that had allowed senior townhomes and a 99-bed assisted-living facility. Rod (staff member) told the board the next steps, should the petitioner proceed, would be an amendment to the annexation agreement and submission of preliminary and final planned development plans.

Board members asked detailed questions and gave direction but did not take a formal vote on the concept plan. Trustees and the president said they generally supported the site plan while requesting that the developer return with refinements: the planning commission’s request for improved pedestrian access between the townhome area and the commercial corner should be addressed at preliminary plan review; townhome exterior materials and elevations should be diversified and enhanced; and the board encouraged maintaining larger lots where feasible.

Trustees also discussed landscaping and buffering along the community edges, continuation of the bike path along Willie Road and a proposed private park within the townhome cluster. Lennar representatives said tree counts and final landscaping would be provided at the preliminary landscaping stage and that they were open to elevation material changes in response to plan commission feedback.

Board members indicated support for the plan concept as presented, subject to the plan commission conditions and to the developer returning with revised elevations and preliminary engineering. No formal approval or ordinance was adopted at this meeting; the petitioner must proceed through annexation-agreement amendment and formal PD submittals in subsequent hearings.

The board’s exchange at the meeting clarified several implementation and design points members intend to preserve when staff and the developer return with formal plans, including stronger pedestrian links to the commercial node and greater townhome exterior variation.