Council approves Preserves of Boone Creek preliminary plan, subject to development agreement

The Mchenry City Council voted to approve an ordinance granting a zoning map amendment, preliminary plat of subdivision and preliminary plan approval for the Preserves of Boone Creek single-family planned unit development, with the ordinance explicitly made subject to the full execution of a development agreement.

Residents who live adjacent to the proposal urged the council to demand lower density and larger setbacks. "Please require Lennar to design a development that fits Mchenry and respects the families who are already here," said Matt Matusik, a neighbor to the proposed site. Other speakers raised questions about the project's density, the removal of existing trees from city easements and whether the developer's reductions (three homes fewer than the prior plan) were meaningful.

Lennar representatives said they had revised the plan in response to feedback, adding larger lots on the western boundary and a roughly 20-foot landscape buffer on the eastern boundary. Rich Olsen of Gary R. Weber Associates described the design as a "master plan" and said the open-space and park linkages were intended to serve the community. Lennar emphasized a mix of product types and identified a section intended to be more affordable.

Council counsel clarified that approval at this stage would be followed by a final plat and execution of a development agreement, limiting the council's ability to require major changes beyond those negotiated in the development agreement and final engineering. After roll call, the clerk recorded five votes in favor and two opposed; the mayor announced the ordinance had passed.

Next steps are the final plat filing and completion of the development agreement before construction approvals proceed.