First Rockford Group’s proposal for a 450,000 square-foot shopping center, along with 92 two-bedroom duplexes passed with a quick 9-0 vote at Monday night’s Sycamore City Council meeting.

The shopping center portion of Sycamore Crossings will be the largest retail facility in the town’s history.

It will be comparable to Cherry Valley’s CherryVale Mall. It shares the name with a duplex development that will ease the commercial growth into any potential residential neighborhoods around Peace Road and Illinois Route 23.

Huntley, just north of Interstate 90 on Illinois Route 47, also boasts retail success.

Fourth Ward Alderman Darren Knuth applauded Sycamore’s growing economy, but fears the town’s enthusiasm caused it to overlook the very real possibility of empty store fronts.

Knuth said the close proximity of the two shopping facilities could create more unoccupied spaces than what was initially anticipated.

It is still too early to know what specific retailers the developer and city are working to attract.

The council also moved to mandate aesthetically pleasing street lighting for the Hickory Terrace Subdivision: Period-style street lamps.

The city has paid developers Castle and Castle Development, LLC, a base fee for the installations, leaving all exceeding costs to the developer.