St. Charles residents continue to voice concerns about height, mass of proposed apartment complex
Residents continue to voice concerns about a proposed five-story building that would house retail space along with 48 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The River East Apartments project would be built at the southeast corner of Illinois and Riverside avenues on the site of the former St. Charles Chamber of Commerce building. Developer Curt Hurst and his son, Conrad, own Frontier Development, which has been involved in several projects in downtown St. Charles.
The St. Charles Chamber had been housed in a one-story office building on the site and recently moved to a new location following the purchase of the site by the Hurst family. Plans call for retail use and parking on the building's first floor and 48 upper floor residential apartments and for the adjacent streets to be reconfigured to add parking.
The building as proposed would be 58 or 59 feet high. The zoning district for the area only allows for a maximum building height of 50 feet.
Those residents attending the Aug. 16 meeting of the city council's planning and development committee said they didn't think anything above 50 feet tall would be appropriate for a residential area and that it would be out of proportion for the neighborhood. Residents had previously voiced concerns at a July 20 plan commission meeting.
"Their proposal is ugly and greedy," said Martha Gass, who lives on Third Avenue, in addressing aldermen. "If you look at all sides of the building in the rendering, it doesn't blend with anything within the several neighboring blocks that you can see in this view."
Robert Carter, who also lives on Third Avenue, asked aldermen to look out for their interests.
"We only have you to look out for our interests," Carter said, in addressing aldermen. "And I want you to take that to heart and realize that a lot of people feel they're being overrun by contractors. It might be wrong, but it is an opinion."
Aldermen voiced similar concerns about the project.
"It is too dense, too high and too bulky," Second Ward Alderman Rita Payleitner said. "I appreciate any work you can do to diminish that."
According to a staff report, the site currently is "severely underutilized." The city's comprehensive plan identified the site "as a catalyst site and contemplated a use similar to the one proposed," the report stated.
Payleitner said she appreciated that the Hursts are trying to fulfill the intention of the comprehensive plan.
"I think that's great," she said. "I can't tell you enough, gentlemen, how refreshing it is to have a developer speak to the intention of the comprehensive plan."
Fourth Ward Alderman Bryan Wirball said he liked that they are doing something with the property.
"I just ask that you take the residents' comments into consideration," he said. "They just have some concerns. They're living there. They can't move their house. They want to see the view of the Fox River as well and enjoy it."