Plainfield Plan Commission Meeting - June 16, 2026

The Plan Commission of Plainfield, Illinois, met on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Boardroom. The meeting included a public hearing and votes on the proposed Bluestem Subdivision, as well as the unanimous adoption of the annual report for the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the June 2, 2026, Plan Commission meeting by voice vote with no opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Heather Roach, a Plainfield North High School employee, expressed support for the single-family home concept but raised significant concerns about traffic safety at the proposed 119th Street entrance. She noted that morning backups at the high school's entrance extend to Van Dyke Road, making left turns dangerous, and suggested that the 119th Street access be limited to right-in/right-out only during peak hours.

Discussion Items

1. Bluestem Subdivision (Case 2121-122325.AA.SU.PP) – A public hearing was held for the request to annex and grant a special use for a planned development (PD) to permit a 91-unit single-family residential subdivision on approximately 40 acres at the northeast corner of 119th Street and 248th Avenue (unincorporated Will County). The applicant, Pulte Homes, proposed a mix of 40-foot-wide “Meadows” lots (40 lots) and 70-foot-wide “Estate” lots (50 lots), plus one custom-home acre lot, a half-acre park, 9 acres of open space, and a multi-use path. Staff recommended approval, noting consistency with the comprehensive plan and similar prior PD approvals. Key discussion points included:

   • Traffic impact: The applicant cited a study showing the development would generate only 1.8% of daily traffic on 119th Street and 2.3% on 248th Avenue. A warrant analysis did not justify a traffic signal, but a crosswalk with flashing beacons was proposed.
   • Deviations: Multiple deviations from R1 zoning code were requested, including reduced lot sizes (from 12,000 to 7,897 sq ft), reduced lot width (from 85 to 60 ft), reduced setbacks (rear from 30 to 25 ft), increased impervious coverage (from 45% to 47%), and reduced right-of-way width. The applicant argued these were consistent with other approved Pulte communities like Bronk Farm.
   • Garage design: Commissioner Fahim raised that the plan included no side-loaded or rear-loaded garages, violating code requirements for a minimum 25% of garages to be recessed. The applicant cited cost constraints and model design limitations, noting they had accommodated side-loads only on wider lots at Bronk Farm.
   • Landscaping and fencing: Staff recommended a 6-foot board-on-board fence along 119th Street and 248th Avenue, with a berm and additional landscaping, to screen homes and traffic. Commissioner Heinen preferred the Bronk Farm approach of extensive berming and unfenced landscaping, but staff argued the fence was a cost-effective alternative to elaborate rear articulation.
   • Custom vs. production homes: Commissioner Heinen stated he could not support the project because it was a production-home development on a premier site; he argued there was a market demand for custom homes in the Plainfield North school district, which the village lacked. The applicant countered that the housing shortage necessitated attainable single-family options (priced $520,000–$740,000) and that they had tried, but failed, to market a custom-home pod at Bronk Farm.
   • Future access: Commissioner Heinen and Chairman Minnesota stressed the need to align the proposed Stone Crop road with Plainfield North High School’s driveway and to ensure adequate right-of-way for future development to the east, noting that Van Dyke Road does not extend north. Staff agreed to address alignment in final engineering.

2. Plan Commission & Zoning Board of Appeals Annual Report – The annual report covering June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, was presented and accepted unanimously via roll call.

Key Outcomes

• Bluestem Subdivision – Annexation Recommendation: Motion to recommend approval of annexation as a logical extension of village boundaries passed 6-1 (Commissioner Heinen opposed).
• Bluestem Subdivision – Special Use for Planned Development (Findings of Fact): Motion to adopt staff findings and recommend special use approval subject to stipulations passed 6-1 (Commissioner Heinen opposed).（
• Bluestem Subdivision – Preliminary Plat of Subdivision: Motion to recommend approval subject to stipulations passed 5-2 (Commissioners Heinen and Fahim opposed).
• Annual Report: Accepted unanimously (6-0).

The commission directed staff to work with the applicant on final engineering, particularly regarding road alignment, landscaping, and potential peak-hour turning restrictions at the 119th Street entrance. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m.