Carpentersville and West Dundee offer dueling FAQs in response to potential warehouse development
The potential for a warehouse development at Randall and Binne roads in Dundee Township has sparked dueling "frequently asked questions" by Carpentersville and West Dundee officials.
Carpentersville officials last week posted an FAQ in response to residents' questions about the potential development. West Dundee officials, who oppose the proposal, responded over the weekend with an FAQ of their own.
In September, Missouri-based U.S. Capital Development presented concept plans to build three warehouses, totaling 1 million square feet, on roughly 90 acres at the southeast corner of Randall and Binnie roads in Dundee Township between Carpentersville and West Dundee.
A similar proposal was presented twice to the West Dundee village staff in 2021 but never made its way to the village board, according to the village's response to Carpentersville's FAQ.
"We wanted nothing to do with this proposal," West Dundee Village President Christopher Nelson said. "It is really just that bad."
Representatives for U.S. Capital Development did not return calls seeking comment.
Carpentersville Village President John Skillman declined to comment on West Dundee's response to his town's FAQ, noting the village has not yet received any formal plans for review.
West Dundee and neighboring residents have opposed the concept plan calling for warehouses, saying it is not a good fit for the residential, retail and recreational uses surrounding the property. In its response, West Dundee also notes that Carpentersville claims the concept plan calls for 60% open space, but the drawings show much of the land used for warehouse buildings, parking, roadways and a retention pond.
Carpentersville Village Manager Eric Johnson said the property the developer would use extends beyond the footprint of the warehouses. He added that land to the south of the potential development would remain open space.
While critics have suggested the area is better suited for retail or residential, Johnson and an attorney representing the property owners said the land has been on the market for some time and has not attracted the interest of retail or residential developers.
"Retail and residential is not where the market is right now," said Ruth Schlossberg, an attorney representing the family that owns the property.
To read each village's responses to questions about the potential development, visit cville.org and dundee.org.