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MI Homes presents 78‑acre "Sadie Ridge" concept plan; residents and council press developer on drainage, traffic and lot sizes
Summary
MI Homes presented a 78‑acre concept plan for the Sadie Ridge subdivision (formerly Site 2) that would add a mix of small‑lot single‑family homes, townhomes and open space. The developer told council the plan will reduce stormwater tributary to Colonial Acres by about 95%; residents raised strong concerns about flooding, traffic safety on Bruce/Cedar roads, radon in soils and the affordability of small‐lot homes.
MI Homes presented the Sadie Ridge concept plan to the Lockport City Council on Nov. 6, drawing extensive council and public scrutiny on drainage, lot sizes, traffic and community impacts.
Lance and planning staff described the property's legacy zoning and the 2009 annexation agreement that ties the land to a mix of R1 (single‑family), R2 and R3 zoning. "This is a concept plan — this is not a final approval plan," the mayor (meeting chair) said when introducing the discussion.
Russ Whitaker of MI Homes walked the council through the plan and the stormwater analysis. He explained that the site straddles a watershed divide and that proposed grading and two new consolidated detention basins along Bruce Road would re‑route and manage runoff. "At 1 acre, we've reduced the area of this drainage area by 95%," Whitaker said when discussing impact to Colonial Acres. He and the developer said they will perform detailed floodplain and soil studies in the next phase.
Staff and council members emphasized the need for a comprehensive traffic study to assess the safety of nearby intersections and the S‑curve on Cedar Road. Councilmembers pressed on lot sizes, with several asking whether the proposed smaller lots and townhomes actually deliver an affordable price point. Greg Collins of MI Homes said the smallest single‑family models would run 1,800–2,300 square feet and townhomes 1,400–1,500 square feet; he suggested small‑lot houses could still price in the low‑$400,000s while larger models sit in the mid‑$500,000s.
Residents who spoke during public comment — including homeowners from McCarran Road, Colonial Acres and Cedar Ridge — urged the council to require larger R1 lots rather than small lots and townhomes, citing frequent local flooding, high groundwater, potential impacts to private wells and septic systems, safety issues with extra traffic and a report of high radon levels on one lot. One resident told the council their test measured radon at over 14 pCi (the Environmental Protection Agency action level is 4 pCi), and another cautioned that opening Ron Court and linking to Cedar Ridge could add thousands of daily trips to neighborhood streets.
Council members signaled they heard residents and planning concerns and gave direction for the developer to return with revised plans and required technical studies (soil borings, full traffic study and floodplain work). The plan had been revised after Planning & Zoning review—staff noted the developer had reduced the townhome count in response to earlier comments—and staff said the item will return for further consideration; no final approval or zoning action was taken on Nov. 6.
The council and residents also discussed long‑range considerations such as a potential future Bruce Road interchange, intergovernmental coordination with Homer Glen and Homer Township, and strategies to pursue housing affordability outside this application. The developer said they will retool designs and work with staff on traffic and drainage analysis before the council considers an action item at a later meeting.
