Council approves Full Circle Communities expansion at 3512 Pearl Street after design changes and parking conditions

The City of McHenry City Council on a roll-call vote approved an ordinance granting final plan approval and a conditional use permit for a planned unit development at 3512 Pearl Street, an expansion of the Pearl Street Commons affordable housing complex.

Director Polarecki introduced the item and turned the presentation over to Jordan Bartle, vice president of real estate development for Full Circle Communities. Bartle said the developer revised the design after earlier council feedback, increasing brick coverage ‘‘about 50 some percent,’’ adding chimney elements and gable dormers to break up rooflines and changing exterior color patterns to better relate the new building to the existing 25-unit structure.

Council members raised two recurring concerns: the visual match with the original building and how the project would meet municipal parking requirements if the property ever left its current income‑restricted status. One council member said the plan as presented would still be ‘‘11 short of what the ordinance would read’’ in a market‑rate scenario. Bartle responded that the ordinance now includes language requiring the property to be brought into compliance with whatever the city code requires at the time of any conversion to market rate; he also said five parking spaces are being held as ‘‘land banks’’ for potential future build‑out and that additional parking could be added in a southwest corner of the site if needed.

Supporters on the council praised the design revisions for adding variety and better integrating the building at the corner, while at least one member said they would have preferred an exact match to the original building. Staff noted that the ordinance and the supplemental language discussed at the meeting will be reflected in the minutes and in the final ordinance text.

Alderman Baney moved to pass the ordinance granting final plan approval for the conditional use permit and planned unit development at 3512 Pearl Street; the motion was seconded and carried on roll call.

The ordinance requires the applicant to meet applicable parking code requirements at the time of any change in use and documents the design changes approved by council. The council’s approval authorizes Full Circle Communities to proceed to the permit stage with the revised design and the added ordinance language about future parking compliance.