SYCAMORE | The Sycamore City Council voted Monday night to approve the construction of the 200-home “Traditions of Sycamore” subdivision on Plank and Lindgren Roads.

“This is the first developer in the last four years that has embraced the urban design guideline,” said city manager Bill Nicklas. “I feel in supporting this we are being consistent with our comprehensive plan.”

St. Charles-based John Hall Homes wants 152 single-family homes, 18 courtyard homes and 30 townhouses and commercial estates. The vote to approve the development was 6-3 with 1st Ward alderman Alan Bauer, 3rd Ward alderman Grace Adee, and 4th Ward alderman Darren Knuth opposed.

“Overall, I think the layout is nice,” Bauer said. “I’m okay with the courtyard homes. It’s the single-family variances I’m concerned about. I’m not in favor of offering variances to the side-yard setback.”

The neo-traditional look sought by the developer asks for a seven-foot setback as opposed to the city’s conventional zoning requirement of a 10-foot setback.

“We really feel that is one of the pluses to the neighborhood,” said developer John Hall, Jr. “What the seven-foot setback allows us to do is that even when they’re lined up together, or if the garages are facing each other, there’s actually more room in between the homes.”

Maintaining city standards has been an issue.

“Some people seem to think we’re diluting our standards,” said 2nd Ward alderman Chuck Stowe. “Especially with the zero lot line houses. I think it’s interesting. It’s something that doesn’t look like your average cookie-cutter development.”

Growth issues within the city were another concern.

“We have to keep reminding ourselves that this isn’t a growth issue,” said 3rd Ward alderman Barbara Leach. “That was already done in the annexation. It’s a done deal. Now it’s a matter of how we want it to look when it comes in.”

Hall asked for a special-use permit to allow for the construction of a new fuel station on the east side. He said intentions are to create an all-natural product look, most likely brick. The vote to amend the ordinance to include a fuel station was 5-3 with Adee, Knuth and Stowe opposing.

The developer’s plan to bring in new commercial business has raised questions about the impact it could have on Sycamore’s downtown district.

“I’m a little concerned about the commercial part of this development and that it might compete with our downtown business,” Bauer said. “We’ve worked hard to maintain a hard-working downtown district. I’d like to see more of a highway commercial development with this new plan.”

Fourth Ward alderman Terry Kessler said the developers met with the chamber to discuss the types of commercial they would like to see brought to the area. Coffee shops, dry cleaning, day care, restaurants and professional businesses-like law firms were among the listed businesses. Kessler said while the chamber did not take an actual vote on the matter, they didn’t seem to have a problem with it either.

“I’m not too worried about the competition,” Stowe said. “The Sycamore Chamber of Commerce supported it. There are a lot of houses in those areas and not a lot of places to shop. It could save people from having to drive completely out of town for some of the things they need.”