Geneva's development pipeline: senior apartments, townhomes and more

Geneva has a busy stack of building proposals in front of the city this fall. Some are early ideas, some are working through staff review and one zoning change is already approved. Here is where each one stands, based on the City of Geneva's development project pages and meeting agendas.

Affordable senior apartments on Blackberry Drive

The newest proposal is a 44-unit affordable senior housing building on the west side of town. The Planning & Zoning Commission's Oct. 22 agenda lists it as a request for conceptual review, with Jake Victor of Northpointe Development as the applicant. The site is a vacant lot between 2197 and 2075 Blackberry Drive.

According to the Daily Herald, a city memo describes 33 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom apartments on a 1.25-acre lot that is part of a planned unit development approved in 2000. The paper reported that the memo does not cover rents or financing. A concept review is an early step, so expect a formal application and public hearing later if the developer moves ahead.

Mill Race Residences

In September the city received an application for Mill Race Residences, which asks for preliminary planned unit development approval for 84 homes across three five-story buildings. The city says staff are still reviewing it. Next comes a public meeting before the Historic Preservation Commission, then a public hearing before the Planning & Zoning Commission, and then a final decision by the City Council.

Townhomes on Fifth Street

The Brownstones of Fifth Street was added to the city's project map in early October. The applicant wants a rezoning and special use permit for a six-unit townhome development at 11 N. Fifth St.

Fisher Homestead on Keslinger Road

The Lannert Group is asking Geneva to annex about 6 acres at 37W500 Keslinger Road for a 21-lot single-family subdivision. The request includes rezoning from RR (rural single-family) to R4 (high density single-family) upon annexation, variations for lot coverage, lot width and setbacks, and a preliminary plat. The city says a Planning & Zoning Commission hearing may be scheduled once staff review is done.

Event spaces now have their own zoning rules

One item is already settled. On Oct. 5 the City Council approved zoning text amendments that add a definition of "event space" to city code and spell out where one can open. Event spaces are now a permitted use in the D-RSCM and D-CM downtown districts and a special use in the D-IM district. They are permitted in the B1, B4, B5 and OR districts and need a special use permit in B3(E) and I1. The changes also add off-street parking rules for event spaces. The Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval after a Sept. 24 public hearing.

Approved Nov. 2, and a hearing Dec. 10

The City Council approved a fence zoning variation for 601 Spring St. and zoning variations for 813 Elm Ave. on Nov. 2, according to a city update. The Planning & Zoning Commission had made its recommendation on the Spring Street request Oct. 8.

Next on the calendar, the Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, on the 322 Hamilton Street PUD project. The city says project documents are posted on its website.

How to follow along

City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission meetings air live on the Geneva Broadcast Network (Comcast channel 10, AT&T U-verse channel 99) and on the city's YouTube channel, where past meetings are also posted. To get an email when a project moves forward, use the Notify Me tool on geneva.il.us and choose Development Projects. Questions go to the city's Community Development Department.