Oswego Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Oswego Planning & Zoning Commission met on September 10, 2026, at Village Hall to approve two sets of minutes, review a concept plan for the Silverthorne-Schultz property, and hold a discussion-only review of proposed UDO accessory structure changes. No public hearings or old business items were scheduled.

Consent Calendar

• The Commission approved the Planning and Zoning Commission minutes from August 6, 2026, and August 11, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rev. Corey Ashley, 1625 Wolf's Crossing Road, lead pastor of Wellspring United Methodist Church, said the church is immediately south of the proposed development and east of the Roth Road extension. He said the congregation has served the community for more than 150 years, hosting recovery groups, support groups, food and financial assistance, and partnerships with schools and local organizations. He said Silverthorn's August 28, 2026 letter of intent asks the church to convey roughly 27 feet along its east side for right-of-way, but that this would not provide the full 80 feet likely needed for the future Ogden Falls/Wolf's Crossing intersection and traffic signal. He said the church had less than two weeks to evaluate the impacts, is already losing right-turn access from the Wolf's Crossing Road expansion, and its septic fields extend north onto the former Schultz farm and would be disrupted by development. Reverend Ashley stated that the church is not necessarily opposed to working with Silverthorn, but the current letter of intent is anemic and would harm the congregation and the people it serves. He asked for time to negotiate a solution benefiting all parties and said the church would oppose the process if it causes unnecessary harm.

• Scott Frieders, 1179 Wolf Road, said his property lies between the proposed development and Oswego East High School. He stated that students already cross his property, trampling crops and vandalizing buildings, and he expressed complete opposition to a pedestrian connection or lane across his property. He said the property is for sale only as a whole, for appraised value, and he is not interested in piecing out any portion. He agreed that the time to develop is now, as one unified piece.

Discussion Items

Silverthorne-Schultz Property Concept Plan (Project #1331.26)

Jeff Lind, project manager, presented the staff report. The 102-acre site is vacant, zoned A1 agricultural in unincorporated Kendall County, north of Wolf's Crossing Road, east of the Churchill Club subdivision, and about 300 feet west of Oswego East High School. The concept plan, named Lodi Grove, proposes 182 single-family homes and 295 townhome units in 61 buildings, at a density of 4.68 dwelling units per acre. It shows five access points: four street extensions from existing stub streets and one southern half-street connection to Wolf's Crossing Road. Staff said it supports the Wolf's Crossing connection only for construction and emergency vehicles and recommended that the Commission provide comments and approve the concept plan.

Paul DeCreif of Silverthorn Homes presented the applicant's case. He said the plan incorporated staff comments from July 24 and September 2, 2026, and most items in a staff letter received the day before the meeting. He described the company's background and its housing mix, including single-family lots, age-targeted courtyard homes, and townhomes.

Commissioner comments and concerns included the following:

• Several commissioners criticized the half-street connection to Wolf's Crossing. One commissioner said a full access point is necessary; without it, all traffic would be forced north and west onto Ogden Falls and Churchill, overloading those roads. Staff reiterated that the shown access is not supported as a permanent full entrance. The developer said discussions were ongoing with property owners, including the church, about a better alignment.
• Parking and private streets drew significant concern. The developer said townhome areas would have private streets, with four parking spaces for two-story townhome units and three spaces for three-story row homes, and that overflow parking was still being studied. Several commissioners objected to private streets because of future HOA maintenance costs, parking problems, and traffic flow.
• A commissioner said students in Churchill and Ogden Falls currently have to take buses because there is no safe walking route to Oswego East High School, and urged collaboration among the developer, village, school district, and park district to create pedestrian access; an intervening parcel complicates the connection.
• Several commissioners questioned the density of 4.68 dwelling units per acre against the comprehensive plan's two-to-three dwelling units per acre guidance, and noted some lots are smaller than the plan's 8,000-square-foot standard. Staff said the plan's density target applies to the district as a whole, not every parcel. The applicant argued the mix provides missing middle housing.
• Commissioners asked for more open space and parkland. The developer said the park district had requested two to three acres, the current plan includes about 1.75 acres of green space, and the plan could be revisited, along with a cash donation.
• One commissioner said they liked the mixed materials in the single-family homes but asked for more material variety in the townhomes and row homes to avoid a barracks look. The developer said three-car garages would be options on larger lots.
• A commissioner raised concern about the narrow undeveloped strip between the project and Oswego East High School, saying it should be planned together with this development because future development of that parcel would be difficult. Another commissioner noted the developer has provided three road stub connections as the best available connectivity, while acknowledging that property owner willingness to sell is outside the developer's control.

A motion to forward the concept plan to the village board with the Commission's concerns was withdrawn. The Commission then voted on a motion to have its recommendations considered and to bring the concept plan back to the Planning and Zoning Commission before it goes to the village board. The motion carried on roll call.

UDO Revisions to Accessory Structures

Rachel Riemenschneider presented a discussion-only review of proposed changes to the Unified Development Ordinance's accessory structure regulations. Current rules vary by structure type, which can be difficult for staff and residents to interpret. The proposed framework would: limit detached accessory structures to three; cap their cumulative footprint at the lesser of the primary dwelling's footprint or 1,500 square feet; require detached accessory structures to be in the rear yard; require structures under 720 square feet to be five feet from rear and interior property lines and structures over 720 square feet to meet zoning district setbacks; and require attached accessory structures to meet zoning district setbacks. Impervious surface limits and HOA restrictions would still apply.

Commissioners generally supported simplifying the code but raised concerns:

• They wanted open structures such as pergolas and pavilions treated differently from enclosed structures because the visual bulk is different.
• They suggested tying the maximum square footage to lot size or to a percentage of rear/buildable yard rather than using a flat 1,500 square feet, so a backyard cannot be entirely filled.
• They discussed corner lots whose large front and side yards are unbuildable, and whether the calculation should account for buildable area.
• They questioned how the proposed attached-structure setback would apply to roofs over already approved decks.

Staff said the examples shown were intentionally extreme to illustrate the possible range. No formal action was taken; staff will use the Commission's feedback to prepare revised draft standards.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission approved the minutes from the August 6, 2026, and August 11, 2026 meetings.
• The Silverthorne-Schultz concept plan was not approved. The Commission voted to bring the plan back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for further consideration before any recommendation goes to the village board, allowing additional time for negotiation and input.
• The UDO accessory structure discussion resulted in no formal action; staff will prepare revised draft standards based on Commissioner feedback. Commissioners referenced needing the update completed by spring for permit season.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2026.