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The St. Charles City Council voted Monday to approve Seventh Street Commons, Pulte Homes’ plan to build 105 homes on the contaminated former factory site northwest of downtown. The vote followed a recommendation from the Committee of the Whole on Oct. 19.
Some residents vocally opposed the project. A Change.org petition against it, launched by a neighbor in October, had grown to more than 600 signatures at the time of the meeting.
Here’s what to know:
The development: The plan calls for 93 single-family homes and 12 townhomes on 27 acres between N. 5th and N. 12th streets, north of State Street. It also includes a walking path along State Street Creek that links to Belgium Town Park. Pulte said in a previous meeting that prices would start around $530,000 for townhomes and $600,000 to $635,000 for single-family homes.
What changed since October: At the committee’s request, Pulte added 30 more trees near State Street Creek. That brings the total to 301 trees planned along streets and in open space, according to city documents. Pulte also agreed to meet with residents who live near the site.
The cleanup plan: BBJ Group, an environmental consulting firm working for Pulte, will manage the cleanup and submit reports to the Illinois EPA. Pulte said the cleanup should take about six weeks, weather permitting.
Why neighbors objected: Residents raised concerns about exposure to contamination during the cleanup, construction trucks on narrow residential streets, the loss of the woods near Belgium Town Park, creek flooding, and higher property assessments.
A representative from Pulte said the developer hopes to start work in April. The initial goal is to start sales by the end of 2027 and try to complete the project in about four years.
The city is also creating a TIF district on the site. This is a mechanism that sets aside the new property tax revenue a development generates to pay for specific local costs.
In this case, it will cover the cost of moving on-site electric infrastructure, which staff estimates at less than $3 million. City documents say Pulte will pay for the cleanup, demolition, and site work.
Read more in this city agenda memo. Watch the full meeting recording.
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