New Lenox Denies PUD Extension for Disputed Apartment Complex

Plans for the controversial Lincoln Station apartment complex are now shelved after New Lenox village trustees let a motion for a third extension to the special use permit for the project die on the floor Monday night.

New Lenox Development Company, LLC had requested another extension for its preliminary planned unit development for the 208-unit complex on 16 acres near the Metra Station but the motion to approve the request was not seconded at the board’s regular meeting.

The village had approved the preliminary plan for the complex in August 2015, after almost a yearlong discussion and dissent from residents.

In July of that year about 100 residents had attended a special townhall to discuss the project, the majority of whom opposed it.

The board granted the PUD in August after NLDC agreed to cut the size of the complex from 312 to 208 units.

NLDC had one year to come back to the board for approval of a final plan, however it received a six-month extension last August because it was still awaiting approval of permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. Another six-month extension was granted in February because the process was still ongoing.

At that February meeting, Mayor Tim Baldermann had asked NLDC representative Richard Gammonley if the company was using the PUD for marketing purposes only, according to the minutes of that meeting. Baldermann had been approached by another representative of the project who had said the project would not move forward, he said.

Gammonley at that time assured the board that NLDC would complete the project and was awaiting permits. However, in an Aug. 7 letter requesting the PUD extension, NLDC informed the board that the company is in contract negotiations to either form a partnership or sell the property outright.

Baldermann Monday night told Gammonley: “I was told [in February] ‘no it wasn’t going to be sold,’ that the issue was solely the issue with the Army Corps. Now there is a separate, different reason for the extension.”

Gammonley responded that the company informed the village staff about its intentions to sell to or partner with another firm soon after the February meeting for “transparency.”

Baldermann also questioned whether there were any genuine offers on the table because the letters of intent received by the village were either expired or not validated with signatures.

Gammonley said that negotiations were ongoing, especially regarding the timeline for starting the project.

“The seller plans on executing one of those two offers in the next five days,” he said.

“We believe this is the right project for the town,” Gammonley said later.

“So did we and we got a lot of heat because of it and it’s gone a lot longer than it should have,” responded Trustee David Smith.

Trustee Annette Bowden said that the situation was “disheartening.”

After the discussion, a motion to approve the extension was made by Trustee Jasen Howard but not seconded and the motion died on the floor.

With its PUD expired, NLDC will have to come back to the village with another request for a preliminary PUD if it decides to do so, said Assistant Village Administrator Robin Ellis after the meeting.

Baldermann said after the meeting that the village is always open to reviewing any requests but that it has “lost confidence that when [Gammonley] tells us something [will happen], that it’s going to happen.”

Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital Plans approved

Village trustees Monday night approved a site plan and two related measures for the mental health facility proposed on the Silver Cross Hospital campus.

Silver Cross Hospital has partnered with US HealthVest to build the 100-bed, 67,000 square-foot facility across from the hospital on the west side of Silver Cross Boulevard.

With the facility having received approval from the state last month and now the site plan from the village, construction is expected to start in November and is expected to be completed by December 2018, according to Miro Potrovic, executive vice president for US HealthVest.

The hospital will create about 150 to 200 direct jobs and many indirect jobs through construction and contracting for cleaning, linen and food supply services, Potrovic said after the meeting.

Silver Oaks will be adjacent to the new ambulatory surgical center Silver Cross is building on that site.

“This is a great addition to our hospital campus,’ said Baldermann.