Planning Commission recommends approval of New Stone Shire Phase Two preliminary PUD

The Joliet Planning Commission voted April 8 to recommend approval of a preliminary planned-unit development for New Stone Shire Phase Two, a D.R. Horton project that would create 147 single-family lots on approximately 54.2 acres north of Van Dyke Road. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action on the April 21 agenda.

Staff told the commission the site was part of a 2004 preliminary plat that was never fully developed and that a sanitary sewer main installed for the original subdivision runs through the property and has been incorporated into the proposed plan. The subdivision would be zoned R1B, with an average lot size of about 10,096 square feet; two lots (lots 21 and 24) would be slightly under the 9,100-square-foot minimum because the petitioner is dedicating additional right-of-way along Van Dyke Road.

Steve Bauer, an attorney and entitlements manager for D.R. Horton, summarized the petition and said the request includes the preliminary plat plus three variations: reduced lot area for two lots (to accommodate a wider right-of-way), a variation to the masonry requirement so all homes would feature at least 25% brick or stone rather than the zoning standard that requires 50% masonry on 50% of units, and a reduction of the Van Dyke Road landscape buffer from 30 feet to 18 feet. Bauer said the developer designed 18 elevations across five home types (roughly 1,500–2,600 square feet) and estimated two-story models would sell in the mid-to-high $400,000s and single-story models in the low-to-mid $400,000s.

Commissioners asked about construction timing, traffic routing and local flooding concerns. Bauer said land development would begin after final plat approval and home construction would typically start about three months after land work commences; he said specific construction traffic routes would be addressed at the required pre-construction meeting. On flooding near County Line Road, staff said they would follow up and provide additional information.

Staff recommended approval, noting the proposal is consistent with the R1B district except for the limited variations supported by staff. Commissioners then moved, seconded and voted by roll call to recommend approval; the motion carried with all members present voting aye. The item is tentatively scheduled for Joliet City Council consideration on April 21.

The next step is final PUD approval and subsequent subdivision and permitting steps; staff and the petitioner said public improvements, utility connections, and development impact fees will be required as part of later approvals.