The DeKalb Plan Commission recommended that the DeKalb City Council adopt the Greek Row Neighborhood Revitalization Plan on Wednesday night.

This approval means that the plan will go before the City Council at its next meeting, on Oct. 14. Before that, there will be a neighborhood meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at City Council Chambers, at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St., to discuss the plans with Greek Row residents.

“I like the recommendations,” plan commission member Herb Rubin said. “I hope it will be carried out.”

One addition to the plan that was recommended by Nancy Verdal, a plan commission member, is to have a timeline for certain projects.

Sue Guio, a community service planner, said that most of the projects are ongoing so a timeline wouldn’t be right.

Guio added that she is positive about the plan’s effectiveness.

“We’ve started already on the projects,” Sue Guio said.

A work session on Savannah Green, a housing development that could come to DeKalb, also was held during Wednesday’s meeting.

Michael Suhadolnik, owner of Construx of Illinois, was at the meeting with a short video presentation about his Normal, Ill.-based housing development.

Principal Planner Russ Farnum said he thought Suhadolnik’s housing plan complies well with the land plan.

“In terms of housing and income level, they’re right on,” Farnum said.

The housing costs of the area will be between $116,000 to $166,000 with the average house costing $137,000. The size of the housing will be between 1,200 to 2,300 square feet.

Suhadolnik said that he didn’t want the same type of housing for every home, but rather a “genuine mixture.”

One problem that the planning commission expressed about the Savannah Green was the kind of growth it would bring to the city.

That growth would effect things such as traffic and the the amount of students in area schools.

“I’m not adverse to the project,” said plan commission member John Guio. “I’m adverse to what it might cause.”

Verdal wasn’t as concerned about the growth, though.

“I don’t think we have to worry about turning into Naperville,” she said.

She also went on to say that the school district had the chance to get more money.

“[The school district] didn’t always run the ball for a first down,” Verdal said.

Rubin also said that 900 houses would be too much to have a neighborhood -type feel. He thought breaking it up would be a better option.

“I don’t think it accommodates what it’s supposed to,” Rubin said.

Community Development Director Paul Rasmussen said there is only a five minute walk to the central location.

“It has a sense of environment,” Rasmussen said.

The plan commission already recommended the lot size for the houses. The lots will be an average of 47 feet wide and 120 feet deep.

If approved, the subdivision will be built adjacent to the NIU campus, west of Annie Glidden Road and north of the Convocation Center. However, it will not have an opening to NIU, except for a possible bike path, Suhadolnik said.

The plans for Savannah Green also mentioned having a possible school or park, but nothing has been decided yet.

Paul Lehman, a partner of DeKalb Associates and owner of the land, thought the meeting went well.

“I think there is a good chance for it being passed,” he said.

Suhadolnik said all he wants is for the project to have a positive impact on the community.

A public hearing about Savannah Green is scheduled for Oct. 16 at City Council Chambers.