Lennar presents Lincoln Estates plan to New Lenox trustees, proposes 196 homes and 11-acre park site

Lennar Homes representatives gave a first-read presentation on the Lincoln Estates residential development, describing a 99-acre site at the southwest corner of Illinois Highway and Nelson Road and a proposed subdivision of 196 single-family homes.

"We are proposing 196 single family homes on just under 100 acres," Caitlin Chuck, the petitioner’s attorney, told the board and described the proposal as consistent with the village comprehensive plan and a residential market analysis. She said the proposal averages 1.98 units per acre, aligns with the comp-plan density recommendation of 2–3.5 units per acre and includes lot sizes with a minimum of 9,375 square feet, an average of 11,163 square feet and maximum lot sizes up to 24,335 square feet.

Chuck said the plan dedicates about 11 acres to the park district and that Lennar has agreed to construct park improvements to be conveyed for future park-district operation and maintenance. The proposal includes roughly 27 acres for stormwater management divided into three basins, 10-foot-wide walking trails connecting to the multi-use path on Illinois Highway, and two access points from Illinois Highway plus one from Nelson Road.

Trustees and staff asked detailed questions about stormwater and pedestrian safety. A board member asked whether the ponds would be wet-bottom or dry retention. Brad Moore, the project's civil engineer, confirmed the basins are wet-bottom and said the design positions ponds to address existing flooding problems around the walking path. When asked who will maintain the ponds, the petitioner said the homeowners association (HOA) will maintain two of the basins while the park district will maintain the north basin adjacent to the park site.

Board members pressed on phasing and construction access — particularly safe pedestrian passage to Lincoln Way West High School during the multi-year build-out — and on the sequencing of sanitary sewer installation. The petitioner said the path would be shifted south and constructed in public-improvement phases when feasible; staff noted temporary easements and brief closures could occur during sanitary sewer work and asked that the village and school be kept informed for safety and scheduling.

Staff described requested subdivision-code waivers for minimum lot widths and limited cul-de-sac frontages for three lots; staff indicated no objections to the R-2 rezoning request at first read, but noted the development agreement would not include building elevations. The petitioner requested a one-year hold from certain code changes that could negatively affect the approved development and a 10-year guarantee of water and sewer capacity tied to their off-site improvements.

The board did not take final action; staff said the items would return when the development agreement and associated utility and right-of-way details are ready for the board’s consideration.

The petitioner and staff will follow up on sanitary sewer timing, construction phasing and final agreements before the board schedules final readings and any approvals.