Shiloh’s Hartman Lakes development put on hold indefinitely

Shiloh’s Hartman Lakes development has been put on hold indefinitely, according to the developer and village officials.

No new developments have come from the tabled variance requests for the proposed Hartman Lakes development earlier this summer.

“We are just waiting to hear from the developer at this point. We don’t have a timeline yet,” Village Clerk Brenda Kern said.

The developer for the Hartman Lakes development, Green Mount Center Retail LLC is still working on its Planned Unit Development (PUD), and nothing new has been requested since late May when variance requests of the allowable materials to be used for the architectural facade of the residential buildings were submitted.

Kern said Green Mount Center Retail LLC hasn’t presented anything new to the board since the last meeting June 13.

“The developer is still working on the Planned Unit Development (PUD), it’s been tabled,” Kern said.

The Shiloh Board of Trustees were scheduled to review the variances with the recommendations in mind from the Planning Commission at the Committee at Large meeting slated for June 27, but that didn’t happen.

Kern said village staff have yet to hear anything from the developer about the last variance requests.

Hurford Architects Inc. included a letter dated May 5 to village trustees, stating the two variance requests with the first to not have brick extend from ground level to the tops of window; and, the second, variance requested to utilize premium horizontal and vertical vinyl siding, cited from village ordinance 151.045 of the development code under appearance standards, which requires all brick to extend from the ground and up to the top of windows at a minimum; and, stucco, EIFS, full brick and mortar, full stone and mortar, cultured stone and mortar or tilt up concrete panels or HARDIE board type siding, not vinyl siding.

Trustee Greg O’Neil voiced his dissatisfaction with the developer’s plans to use premium vinyl siding instead of a higher quality exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS).

“Did you bring samples of this ‘premium siding’ with you,” O’Neil asked of Dan Hurford, the lead architect during the June 13 meeting.

Hurford said he did not, and continued with his powerpoint presentation that included a three dimensional digital video of the developement.

Developer Wayne Schmidt said he and his engineers are working on the nuts and bolts of the PUD still, and moving as fast as possible with no idea of when it will be finalized to be brought before the board again.

“I’m disappointed in lack of support from the village staff on bringing “such a great development into the village,” Schmidt said.

When asked for specifics, Schmidt said he isn’t at liberty to divulge that information.

“Honestly, the residents who seemed to oppose the development (at previous meetings) were actually limited to a couple people, and suprisingly enough, they don’t even live in the village technically,” Schmidt said.

However, the residents who came to the meeting 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, cited village addresses when making public comments. Over 20 residents addressed the Planning Commission and 10 addressed the board of trustees on March 28.

There were less residents present at the June 13 meeting, however, but still residents of Shiloh.

After an hour long, heated public hearing at the Village of Shiloh Senior Center June 13, the Shiloh Planning Commission unanimously approved the two variance requests for the proposed Hartman Lakes project in western Shiloh.

Again, nothing new since June has been submitted or reviewed.

Mayor Jim Vernier said, “the developer is the one who asked for the (requests) to be tabled, not us.”

“We are just waiting for them to work out their end of things before they bring the project before the board again,” he said.

The new Memorial Hospital East in Shiloh that opened in April, and St. Elizabeth’s HSHS Hospital in O’Fallon being built now, Vernier said he thinks the development should have no problem filling up the units with residents down the line.

“I think it’s a nice project, and I hope it moves along sooner rather than later. I’m not sure why the developer would say he’s not getting the support from village staff he needs — our staff is doing just what they should be doing to accomodate, just like they would with any other developer,” Vernier said.

It’s his job to remain objective in terms of proposed developments coming before the board, Vernier said.

“I will continue to do so, and I hope the project can make some headway soon, but when is the question we all are asking at this point,” he said.

The proposed development will have about 328 units on 55 acres that was rezoned to multifamily from country estates zoning in March.

There will be 5.94 units per acre, which is far less than what is allowed per ordinance, and far less than many surrounding multifamily developments, Hurford told trustees during the June 13 meeting.

There are a total of 324 individual living units, where as village code would allow as many as 458 units in the because the developer wants excess green and blue space, as well as walking trails and amenities like a swimming pool and clubhouses. Also, planned are six garden buildings containing 172 apartments and ranch-style buildings will have 152 units when complete.

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Shiloh’s Hartman Lakes development put on hold indefinitely."