Oswego board approves concept plan for Traubber Estates, directs staff to negotiate tri‑party redevelopment agreement

The Village of Oswego board on Dec. 9 approved a revised concept plan for the former Traubber school site and directed staff to begin negotiating a tri‑party redevelopment agreement among the village, School District 308 and the petitioner.

The developer's representative, Brian Kronwitter, said the latest design reduces overall density and height from earlier proposals: the current concept calls for 161 total units (36 for‑sale townhomes and 125 rental apartments), two three‑story apartment buildings along Route 71 in place of a previously proposed five‑story structure, and increased green space and setbacks. "We took the public feedback and reduced building heights, added green space, and adjusted the unit mix to include more for‑sale product," Kronwitter said during his presentation.

Civil engineer Bob Walker said the project will add stormwater detention basins that require roughly 5.5 acre‑feet of storage and, with the proposed release rates, would reduce peak runoff in a 100‑year storm by about half compared with current conditions. "With the detention we're putting in, actual runoff will be decreased through the detention basins," Walker said.

Residents who spoke during public comment urged caution. Don Draxler, a 34‑year resident, said he was worried about traffic congestion at Route 71, Washington Street and Plainfield Road and questioned police and infrastructure capacity to serve new residents. "Development of an apartment complex will only increase the congestion and negatively impact the quiet setting of our neighborhoods," Draxler said. Earlier commenter Dominic Liberatori said the development felt out of character with downtown and raised density and safety concerns.

School district leaders answered questions about past marketing and the site's condition. Superintendent Dr. Calgatti said the district had engaged a demographic consultant and that the district has the seats to absorb the project’s projected student generation; staff later cited student‑generation estimates of about two dozen students. School finance staff noted the district spends substantial utility and maintenance dollars on the vacant building and described the parcel's inclusion in the Washington TIF as a reason development could produce value for taxing bodies.

Trustees pressed for expanded traffic and fiscal impact studies before final approval. Multiple board members emphasized that additional engineering, traffic analysis and financial negotiations will return to the planning commission and the village board before any final binding approvals or incentive contracts.

The board voted to approve the concept plan and to direct staff to begin tri‑party negotiations. The motion passed on a roll call vote with trustees voting in the affirmative; the approval authorizes further studies, financial negotiations and return to planning and the board for subsequent, more detailed approvals.

Next steps: staff will work with the petitioner and School District 308 to develop the financial terms, expand traffic and engineering analyses, and return a negotiated redevelopment agreement and technical studies to the planning commission and village board for review and potential final action.