After months of debate, the 29-home development set to be built on the swath of land commonly known as the Hoover estate has officially been approved by the Glencoe Village Board.
Trustees unanimously approved the final plat of subdivision Oct. 15 for the Forest Edge subdivision at 1801 Green Bay Road. Hoover Estates LLC plans to build 29 single-family homes ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 square feet.
“It is nice to be able to finally get to work,” said Larry DiVito, director of development for Glencoe Developers LLC, the property manager.
The board action ends an approval process that officially began last year. Throughout the process, neighbors of the property expressed concern about stormwater, sanitary sewer management and the impact the new homes would have on the rest of the neighborhood.
At the October village board meeting, neighbor Anne McPhee offered suggestions on water management as part of a detailed presentation.
“Our concern is that most of us tend to live in these homes for a long time,” McPhee said. “This development will hopefully last for decades. We need to make sure that whatever is proposed is safe for a long time.”
James Tigue, the village’s civil engineer, said village staff has held meetings with residents and the engineer they retained to address potential flooding issues. The final plat includes a series of changes from the preliminary plan that village officials believe will distribute excess water in different ways.
Tigue said they have verified the spot from which excess water will flow and they are convinced it will head toward Turnbull Woods and not toward the Terrace Court basin.
“The village will continue to work with the (Cook County) Forest Preserve District, the developer and the homeowners association to ensure functionality of the flowpath both during construction and post-construction,” Tigue said.
The village board appeared to be pleased with the final product.
“I do think we have made a lot of progress and I am impressed with the process,” Trustee Barbara Miller said.
Village Attorney Steven Elrod presented the final development agreement that creates performance standards for each of part of the development process, the formation of a homeowners association that will be responsible for the property maintenance, a tree preservation and removal plan and the payment of impact fees to Glencoe School District 35 and the Glencoe Park District.
Also included is the creation of a special service area.
“It will ensure the funding of perpetual maintenance and repair of any stormwater facilities or any common area agreements,” Elrod said.
Before construction can begin, developers still must acquire approvals and permits from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the North Cook Soil & Water Conservation District and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
MWRD spokeswoman Allison Fore said the agency had received the application from the developers in August. The application is under review, pending a request for additional information.
To make way for the new homes, most of the existing structures on the property will be demolished including the manor house, coach house, stables and gazebo, according to the development agreement.
The estate was owned by the family of H. Earl Hoover, the nephew of the vacuum company’s founder, W.H. Hoover, according to village documents.
DiVito said only certain existing elements can be preserved such as the existing flooring at the manor house, which will be placed into one of the model homes along with other miscellaneous items.
He said on the outside some gate piers will remain, but the future of the gates themselves is unclear.
“At the end of the day, there aren’t that many elements in that home that are salvageable,” DiVito said. “Hopefully the outcome is something that everyone is happy with.”
DiVito said construction could start by the end of the year, weather permitting. The first homes may be available for occupancy in the second half of 2021.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter.
