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Delavan officials start talking about Sho-Deen

DELAVAN — The agenda didn’t say “Sho-Deen.”

City of Delavan officials tried to speak in general terms instead of talking about the proposed residential development during a city plan commission meeting Monday night.

But the 623-house proposal was on the minds of everyone in the room.

Sho-Deen President Dave Patzelt was in the audience taking notes.

So was Dorothy Burwell, Delavan Town Board chairwoman. If approved, the development would be located in the township.

At least one commissioner referred to a map of the proposal before learning his map was outdated. That’s because the developer has not made a formal presentation to the city, Administrator Joe Salitros said.

Illinois developer Sho-Deen is proposing a 623-home development on 220 acres near Mound Road and County F in Delavan Township.

The town board tonight could approve a conditional-use permit for the development.

The plan commission on July 6 recommended the town board approve the application for a conditional-use permit to build the Shores of Delavan Lake subdivision.

The town board’s decision is advisory to the county, which will have the final say.

A conditional-use permit is required because Sho-Deen wants to build a “conservation” subdivision that clumps houses in some areas and leaves open spaces in others. The clusters would have higher building density than is allowed by town and county ordinances.

The property already is zoned residential, so why does the city of Delavan even need to get involved?

The development is within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

If approved, the development would require an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan, which was approved in the fall.

Planner Mike Slavney on Monday explained to the commission the process to amend a comprehensive plan. It would be wise of the town or the developer to request such an amendment as soon as possible, he said.

“The farther that goes without the city on board, the greater the likelihood of making the city angry and greater the likelihood that the plan the city approves is a little different than the one the town or county approved,” Slavney said.

The amendment process would take up to four months, Slavney said. The public would be allowed to comment on the amendment, just like when the original plan was approved, Slavney said.

In addition, the city and the town should start talking about broader, cooperative land use issues, Slavney said.

As an example, the town has earmarked the Sho-Deen site for future residential development.

The city has the site earmarked as agricultural.

That difference wouldn’t stop the development, because the city does not have zoning jurisdiction over the site, Slavney said.

But the city does have plat review authority, and the development density is higher than the city’s plan would allow, Slavney said.

Cooperation between the town and the city could be good for everyone involved, he said.

“The efficient way and the way to promote intergovernmental relations would be to get the city’s comprehensive plan amended and get the city and the town to talk about broader intergovernmental issues,” Slavney said.