Commission approves preliminary 'Lofts at Village Green' plat after owners warn of steep repair costs and resist address change

The Pleasant Prairie Plan Commission on voice votes approved a preliminary condominium plat for the Lofts at Village Green and recommended that the village board leave the existing street name and unit addresses unchanged after lengthy public comment from current Sagewood condominium owners.

The commission's approval advances a multi-phase project that will incorporate two existing 4-unit buildings and add 14 new 4-unit buildings for a total of 64 units, according to planning staff. Staff said the developer seeks to rename Sagewood Circle as 103rd Circle and update eight existing addresses; the village board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the name change on March 23, with an effective date listed by staff as 2026-05-15 if approved.

Why it matters: current owners said the developer's renovation plan would require immediate, out-of-pocket repairs for aging buildings that many owners cannot afford, while the developer and staff said bringing the property to county and village standards is necessary for long-term marketability and safe public streets.

Residents who live on Sagewood Circle told the commission they face substantial up-front costs. "Our HOA fees are... $380 a month. We are projecting that they will easily double," said Paula Kubica, who identified herself as a Pleasant Prairie resident and one of seven owners on Sagewood Circle. Tatiana Hibbert, another owner, told commissioners that prior estimates for roof, irrigation and painting work were "around $20,000," and said completing the work by summer would be a heavy burden for single‑income owners.

Doug Stanek, the project's applicant, told the commission the work addresses deferred maintenance: roofs and exterior painting must be done, irrigation and landscaping will be upgraded, and some items (notably concrete driveways) could be deferred. Stanek said the developer will create a reserve account for the association, separate utilities for new units, and that the developer will cover the cost to convert the private road to a public street — "if they were to pay their fair share of that road, it would be about a $125,000," Stanek said, adding, "We're paying, we're covering the cost of that."

Commissioners and staff also questioned the street-name change. Some commissioners said modern dispatch systems use electronic mapping and worried a name change would be an administrative hardship for current owners. The developer said numeric street names are easier to use in the field and might reduce confusion for responders; staff noted the 103rd Court/Circle name had been the original intended name for the roadway.

Staff emphasized that the commission was acting on a preliminary plat only. Robert (planning staff) reminded the commission that final declarations, bylaws and the development agreement — which will specify the exact repair obligations and any protections for existing owners — must still be negotiated before final plat approval.

Outcome: The Plan Commission approved the preliminary condominium plat by voice vote. A separate motion to recommend changing Sagewood Circle to 103rd Circle failed for lack of a second; the commission instead voted to recommend to the village board that the street name and the existing addresses remain unchanged. One commissioner recused themself from the matter because of a relationship with the developer.

What comes next: The project requires comprehensive-plan and zoning map/text amendments, final residential development plans, a certified survey map to dedicate public roadways, and final condominium declarations and development agreements. The village board will hold a public hearing on the street-name request on March 23. Planning staff said wetlands delineation and final building designs will also be resolved as the project proceeds.