Oswego Village Board Regular Meeting – December 9, 2025

The Oswego Village Board met in regular session on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Oswego Village Hall. President Coffin and all six trustees were present. The board approved the consent calendar, adopted Finnegan’s Law, granted a brick-painting variance at 76-78 Main Street, approved a sales-tax incentive agreement for a HomeGoods store, and approved the revised Traughber Estates concept plan while directing staff to negotiate a tri-party redevelopment agreement. The public forum was dominated by opposition to the Traughber Estates proposal, with additional comments about regional planning for large developments.

Recognition

• Hudson Design House, located at Main and Washington, was recognized as Business of the Month for its community involvement. Lisa Hildebrandt and representatives from the EDC Commission and Chamber attended.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dominic Libertori spoke against the Traughber Estates development, saying the density is out of character with Oswego and that the first plan was unacceptable. He said critics are not claiming future residents are criminals, but that higher density with the same per-capita crime rate would mean more crime. He urged the board to look at more options.
• Frank Woolley asked why the revised Traughber plan was not sent back to the Planning and Zoning Commission through the usual protocol. He argued the project would create roughly 20 residences per acre compared with about 5 residences per acre in the original village, four times the density and out of character with the surrounding neighborhood. He said approving it would contradict preservation goals.
• Don Draxler, a 34-year resident, said he strongly opposed the Traughber School Development Project, citing traffic congestion on Route 71, Washington Street, and Plainfield Road, multiple signal cycles, and impacts on neighborhood bus routes. He disputed police staffing adequacy, citing an FBI standard of 2.3 sworn officers per 1,000 residents, a projected population of 61,000, and 54 sworn officers. He referenced a reported 11% increase in traffic enforcement and 53% of stops targeting “fatal four” violations, while crashes increased. He urged a no vote and suggested single-family homes or a vocational program as alternatives.
• Kevin Stone criticized the process and the developer, saying the school district had previously tried to sell the property for $3.5 million and had offers. He described the developer as a “TIF hunter” focused on profit, pointed to errors such as misspelling “Traughber Estates” as “Traver Estates” on plan documents, and asked the village to consider preemptive zoning and avoid a “sweetheart deal.”
• Brad Chamberlain said he was not speaking about Traughber, but asked Oswego to help create a countywide approach for large developments, especially data centers. He proposed a joint review subcommittee, shared standards, developer-funded impact studies, land use guarantees, decommissioning plans, and transparent communication.
• Sean McClure, a 25-year resident and military veteran, alleged that the developer was under federal investigation in connection with single-bid activity in Evanston’s District 65 and was the sole bidder on the Traughber property. He urged the board to research the company before approving anything.
• Rick Kuhn, a Planning and Zoning Commission member speaking as a resident, urged the board to vote no. He argued the development would burden infrastructure and traffic, that questions about infrastructure had not been adequately answered, that the village is still implementing a new comprehensive plan, and that the property had not been listed for sale for over 10 years. He said a no vote would not be final and asked the board to pause.

Staff Reports

• Economic Development Director Kevin Lighty was recognized for earning his Certified Economic Developer (CED) certification.
• Public Works gave an update on leaf collection and snow response. The annual leaf collection began in October, with the first pass completed October 28, the second November 21, and the third beginning November 24. A leaf vacuum broke November 25; staff fabricated a temporary repair and returned it to service November 29. A record-setting November storm dropped 7.7 inches of snow on November 30, and over the following 10 days the village received 13.7 inches of snow across five events. Crews ran 13 plows. Staff said bagged leaves were collected free of charge and that the final leaf pass would resume after snow melts, likely taking five to ten days.

Consent Calendar

• Item G7 was removed from the consent agenda and tabled until the January 6, 2026 board meeting.
• Trustee Hughes pulled item G11, the dog park ordinance amendment. The board approved it as amended to eliminate the dog park license requirement in addition to eliminating permit fees, after discussion about administrative and enforcement burdens.
• The remaining consent calendar items were approved by roll call vote with all trustees voting yes.

New Business

• Finnegan’s Law (I.1): Staff presented an ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance to require vehicle impact protection measures in high-risk locations, including certain public entrances, storefront windows up to two feet above grade, outdoor dining areas, daycare outdoor play areas, and areas where vehicles park perpendicular to buildings. Protective devices must withstand a 5,000-pound vehicle traveling at 30 miles per hour. The ordinance was named in response to the death of a two-year-old at a Portillo’s earlier this year. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 7-0 on December 4. Board members expressed strong support and noted plans to work with the family’s foundation to promote similar protections elsewhere. The ordinance passed unanimously.
• 76-78 Main Street Variance (I.2): The petitioner sought a variance from UDO Section 8.12, which prohibits painting brick and natural stone, after painting the brick facade without knowing the restriction. Staff said the brick had already been painted, and the PZC recommended approval 7-0. Trustees discussed whether the ordinance is achieving its aesthetic and historic preservation goals, whether alternatives such as brick repair existed, and the future maintenance burden of painted brick. A motion to grant the variance passed unanimously; the property maintenance code will require upkeep of the paint.
• HomeGoods Economic Incentive Agreement (I.3): Staff presented an agreement with Prairie Market 24 LP / Edgemark for a 25,000-square-foot building addition between PetSmart and Aldi at Prairie Market East to accommodate HomeGoods. Staff said the deal was not viable without assistance because of below-market rents typical for junior box anchors, high construction costs, and borrowing costs. The agreement provides 100% of municipal sales taxes generated by the tenant for up to 15 years or $1.5 million, whichever comes first, with clawback provisions if the store closes or relocates. Staff projected about $144,000 per year in home-rule sales tax during the incentive, about $300,000 per year after, and about $2 million in total sales tax through 2040. The board amended the ordinance to correct a dollar-amount typo from $1,500,000 to $1.5 million and then approved it unanimously.

Old Business

• Traughber Estates Revised Concept Plan (J.1): The developer presented a revised concept for the old Traughber/Trauber school site. The plan now includes 161 units: 36 townhomes and 125 apartments in five three-story buildings, replacing the earlier five-story building. This is down from 202 units in October and about 85 units, or roughly 35%, from the February 2025 submittal. The mix is approximately 78% rental and 22% for-sale. The developer said parking would meet code at 1.75 spaces per apartment, with 219 apartment spaces, 17 clubhouse spaces, and 72 garage spaces for townhomes. Other changes included 3.85 acres of green space, about a 40% increase in trees, wider setbacks, improved stormwater detention, and a clubhouse of about 6,500 to 7,000 square feet that could potentially host community gatherings.
• The civil engineer said the project would provide approximately 5.5 acre-feet of stormwater detention and reduce runoff by about 50% compared with existing conditions in a 100-year storm. The developer also committed to a wider traffic study scope and to a fiscal impact study of the project. The developer said the project would be market-rate housing with no Section 8 housing on the table, and agreed to a plaque commemorating Traughber’s history.
• SD308 officials said the property was listed for sale in 2019 and that an RFP was issued in December 2024, with responses received in February 2025. They said the building costs about $250,000 a year in utilities, has not been maintained, and would require substantial code-related work. They projected the development would generate approximately 24 students and would not cause school overcrowding in that area. Police Chief Baston responded to public comments by saying FBI staffing figures are actual averages, not recommendations, and that the department is fully staffed with 56 officers. Public Works staff said they can provide services to the new development, and noted the village is expanding the public works facility. The developer denied allegations of a connection to a federal investigation, saying they were a “fabrication.”
• A trustee read from the earlier PZC denial minutes, noting the stated reasons were the five-story building, elevation variety, parking and overflow, and traffic. The revised plan was sent to PZC members and they were invited to attend; only Commissioner Rick Kuhn, who had already spoken in public comment, was noted as attending. A public commenter and SD308 officials gave conflicting accounts of how recently the property had been listed for sale.

Trustee and President Reports

• Trustees congratulated Kevin Lighty, Hudson Design House, Christmas Walk organizers and staff, the Oswego football team, and public works crews for snow and leaf work. They also thanked staff and wished residents a safe holiday season.
• President Coffin reported that Oswego is unlikely to receive data centers due to infrastructure limitations, thanked State Representative Matt Hanson for a $100,000 state grant for the Main Street ADA ramp, praised the Christmas Walk, announced a Toys for Tots breakfast on Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the fire station, and congratulated the Panther girls’ 4A state championship team, the 2A golf state champion, and the 8A football state runner-up team.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 6-0, with G7 tabled and G11 amended as described.
• Bill list approved unanimously in the amount of $1,665,942.46.
• Finnegan’s Law approved unanimously.
• 76-78 Main Street brick-painting variance approved unanimously.
• HomeGoods economic incentive agreement approved unanimously as amended.
• Traughber Estates revised concept plan approved 6-0.
• Staff directed to begin negotiating a tri-party redevelopment agreement among the Village, School District 308, and the petitioner, approved 6-0.
• Next steps include continued traffic and fiscal impact studies, site plan engineering, a return to the Planning and Zoning Commission for land-use review, and negotiation of the redevelopment agreement.