Shiloh board passes rezoning for Hartman Lakes project

The Shiloh Village Board on Monday of last week passed the controversial rezoning application for the Hartman Lakes project with a 4-1 vote This rezoning will allow for the project to move forward with plans to build 328 housing units on 55 acres.

Regular Board meetings occur the first Monday of every month for final voting of items previously discussed at weekly committee meetings.

The rezoning application for Hartman Lakes was submitted on Feb. 10 by Green Mount Retail Center LLC, the developer, which went before the Shiloh Planning Commission on March 14, where the commission passed a recommendation of denial be forwarded to the Board of Trustees.

Residents came in droves to voice opposition to the project because it will undoubtedly add to the existing traffic congestion on Hartman and Thouvenot Lanes, as well as Frank Scott Parkway. Over 20 residents addressed the Planning Commission and 10 addressed the board of trustees on March 28.

Trustee Greg O’Neil was absent Monday because he was out of town, while Trustee Bob Weilmuenster called through conference call to ensure his vote was counted. Trustee Colleen Powers abstained from voting, and Trustee Mark Kurtz cast the lone opposing vote. Trustees Kurt Burrelsman, Tina Warchol and Weilmuenster voted for approving the Hartman Lakes developer’s application to change the zoning from country estates to multifamily.

Mayor Jim Vernier voted, too.

“The mayor voted as an extra measure, since we had one trustee absent and one abstaining,” Village Clerk Brenda Kern said.

The portion requesting rezoning from country estates to B-3 highway business of eight acres of the approximate 63 acre project has been put on the back burner as of the committee meeting held Monday, Mar. 28 until Shiloh Attorney Terry Bruckert is able to compile for information for the board to review about what the B-3 highway business zoning entails.

While on vacation, O’Neil was available for comment over the phone, and said he’s only on board with portions of the Hartman Lakes project’s housing proposal.

“I’m glad the B-3 highway business zoning was held off until we can review it more because I agree there shouldn’t be gas stations or fast-food joints in front of the (proposed) Hartman Lakes subdivision complex,” O’Neil said.

O’Neil said he wants to study up on the details involving the 675 square foot apartments proposed for some of the housing structures.

“They just seem like they’d be really cheap ones, but I want to find out because I’m not a fan of just any building materials being used there,” O’Neil said.

“I think the rest of the development will be O.K., but I don’t want any vinyl siding used at all,” O’Neil said. “It’s just cheap and looks it, especially because most don’t always take care of it like they should. And, like many in Shiloh that I can point out now, vinyl siding (structures are) notorious for mold growing over time, especially on the north sides of buildings.”

O’Neil said he’s aware that the discussion, and eventual approval, of building material specifics will still have to come before the board.

“People just don’t take care of it like they should with bleaching and power washing. If the developer wants to build something there, I think they need to use mostly brick or hardy board,” he said. “The developer hasn’t confirmed what they plan on using either way, so I look forward to taking a closer look during meetings in the future.”

Superintendent message

Dale Sauer, Shiloh School District 85 superintendent, gave a brief update to the board regarding the proposed one percent sales tax, which would be levied county wide. A public hearing is scheduled for April 28.

Forty percent of the school district’s revenue comes from the State of Illinois, which Sauer noted is behind on scheduled payments, forcing the District 85 to make some staffing adjustments to compensate.

Police dispatch renewal approved

The Village Board unanimously gave Vernier permission to sign the O’Fallon-Shiloh dispatch contract, also a three-year contract, and technology upgrade and conversion due to the consolidation of the public safety answering point (PSAP) locations in St. Clair County. The consolidation is following changes in legislation.

Due to new legislation, the status of the O’Fallon Dispatch Center is uncertain, according to John Marquart, village administrator.

The legislation requires that four of the current eight PSAP locations be closed and consolidated into the remaining four centers.

The current dispatch contract with the City of O’Fallon expires on April 30.

“I met with O’Fallon Police Chief Eric Van Hook about our service contract. He proposed a three percent increase over the fiscal period of 2015-2016 for each of the next three fiscal years,” Marquart said.

The increase represents their labor cost increase mandated by current labor contracts. Conditions of the dispatch contract would remain the same, on a month-to-month basis and quarterly payments.

“We believe O’Fallon will remain a PSAP, however that has not been positively decided,” Marquart said.

The O’Fallon City Council on March 21 agreed to enter into a police dispatching agreement with Shiloh.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Shiloh board passes rezoning for Hartman Lakes project."