Oswego Village Board Regular Meeting - February 18, 2025

The Oswego Village Board held a regular meeting on February 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Key actions included approving a final planned unit development (PUD) for a commercial project at Route 34 and Kendall Point Drive, and authorizing a $185,000 professional services agreement for a comprehensive plan update. Trustee Tom Geist participated electronically.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the February 4, 2025 Committee of the Whole and Regular Board Meeting minutes.
• Approved engagement letters with Chapman and Cutler LLP for WIFIA loan, general obligation bonds, and taxable bond issuance.
• Approved an ordinance amending Title 9 Chapter 4 (stop and yield signs) and adopting the regulatory traffic control signage map.
• Approved a resolution approving an underwriting engagement letter with Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
• Approved an ordinance amending various sections of the municipal code (Title 3 Chapters 5, 10, 11, 33, and Appendix A).
• Approved a resolution authorizing the Finance Director to contract for street lighting electricity through the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative Bid Process.
• All consent items were approved unanimously by roll call vote (Trustees Johnson, McCarthy Lang, Novi, Torres, Kart, Geist all yes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Fred Mahler (self-identified as representing Steeple Chase at Churchill subdivision) expressed concerns about the proposed grocery store development at Route 34 and Kendall Point Drive. He cited increased traffic from Delta Sonic, missing left-turn signs, unsafe sidewalks, and fear that the new development would bring more traffic cutting through the subdivision. He requested reinstatement of a no-left-turn sign to minimize turns into the subdivision.
• President Coffin acknowledged the concerns and offered to look into the traffic signal and sidewalk issues.

Discussion Items

Item J1 – Final PUD for Commercial Development at Route 34 and Kendall Point Drive

• Staff Presentation (Rod) : The five-acre site at the southwest corner of Route 34 and Kendall Point Drive is part of the Steeple Chase at Churchill Club development. The applicant seeks approval for a final PUD to allow a grocery store (with high-quality materials including brick, cultured stone, and stucco) and a 10,000 sq ft retail/restaurant building (potentially including a bank with drive-thru). Parking: 214 spaces proposed (required range 133–220). Three access points: a full-access drive on Route 34 (west side), a right-in-only on Kendall Point Drive (north), and a full-access drive on Kendall Point Drive (south). Variations to sign standards are requested (larger than normally allowed but similar to Prairie Market). Staff recommended approval.
• Trustee Discussion: Trustees asked about setback from Route 34 (no minimum in B1 district), location of the monument sign (northeast corner of site), and landscaping to ensure vision triangles are maintained. No objections raised.
• Vote: Motion to approve the ordinance passed 7–0 (Trustees Johnson, McCarthy Lang, Novi, Torres, Kart, Geist all yes; President Coffin also voting).

Item J2 – Professional Services Agreement for Comprehensive Plan Update

• Staff Presentation (Rod) : The village last updated its comprehensive plan in 2015. An RFP was issued in November 2024; eight firms applied; four were shortlisted. The selection committee recommended Ginkgo Planning and Design, Inc. (which worked on the 2015 plan) based on history, research methodology, community-first focus, and cost-effectiveness. The contract amount is $185,000. The process will take approximately 18 months, with plans to engage the community through multiple methods (newsletter, email, workshops, events like Wine on the Fox, Christmas Walk, Prairie Fest, and Village Board on Your Block). A key focus will be a study of the Wolf's Crossing area.
• Trustee Discussion: Trustee Kit raised concerns about the value of such studies, noting past housing studies were not reflective of market realities and that much of the land is not within village limits. He questioned the usefulness of a $185,000 plan when development decisions are driven by builder profit. Other trustees (McCarthy Lang, Novi, Torres, Coffin) supported the plan, emphasizing it provides a strategic vision, community input, and a basis for responsible growth. They differentiated this from the earlier housing study by noting it is market-driven and includes a specific corridor study for Wolf's Crossing. Trustee Kit reiterated his skepticism but acknowledged the value of disagreement.
• Vote: Motion to approve the resolution passed 6–1 (Trustees McCarthy Lang, Novi, Torres, Johnson, Senate, Geist yes; Trustee Kart no).

Key Outcomes

• Approved Final PUD (J1): Unanimous approval (7–0) for the commercial development at Route 34 and Kendall Point Drive.
• Approved Comprehensive Plan Update (J2): Authorized $185,000 agreement with Ginkgo Planning and Design, Inc. by a 6–1 vote.
• Approved Bill List: February 18, 2025 bill list in the amount of $1,155,529.69, approved unanimously.
• Trustee Geist Electronic Participation: Approved unanimously to allow electronic attendance for the meeting.
• Next Steps: Staff will follow up on traffic sign and sidewalk issues raised by a resident. The comprehensive plan process is expected to begin shortly, with community engagement throughout 2025.