4-story building for East Dundee not a hit with Roeser

Developer Joe Billitteri's plan for a four-story building of retail and residences in downtown East Dundee has been met with resistance from another private investor.

Billitteri, of Lake in the Hills-based Premier Commercial Realty, wants to bring more people downtown with a 20,000-square-foot building proposed for the recently vacant 110 N. River St.

The development would include 6,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor and 20 residential units on the top three floors, he said.

But Otto Engineering President Tom Roeser, who has invested millions of dollars into the village's redevelopment, thinks the proposed building is too big for its intended location.

"It doesn't look right for the downtown area," he said. "It's way too high, and it doesn't fit the historic downtown at all."

Billitteri will appear before the village's planning and zoning commission at 7 p.m. Thursday, seeking a height variance that would allow the building to be 52 feet tall. Village zoning requirements limit the height of buildings in the downtown business district to three stories and 40 feet.

The additional space would allow for one to two-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors and some penthouse-style condos on the top floor, Billitteri said.

"What we're trying to do is bring more people to downtown East Dundee," he said. "I think they'll be happy with the product we're bringing them."

Roeser said he did not think surrounding businesses and residents were properly notified of the meeting regarding such a large project. He sent a notice to businesses along Meier and River streets, encouraging them to attend and voice their opinions.

"I'm not trying to rabble-rouse," he said. "If the project was approved and people were not made aware of the meeting, that wouldn't be fair."

Meeting agenda and materials are posted on the village's website.

But Village President Lael Miller said this is only the first step of many. A height variance would have to be approved by the commission and the village board; then, a final plan would have to be reviewed and approved by several parties.

"This is how the development process works," Miller said, noting that Roeser has gone through the process several times himself. "We work with the developers to try to come up with something that everyone is happy with."

Until he sees the final plans, Miller declined to comment on the building's look.

"We're excited about this potential development, but obviously, we want something that fits the character of the town and is going to look good there," he said. "The way the building looks is very important."

Roeser also worried that the downtown does not have sufficient parking to accommodate such a large building. Billitteri, however, said the property itself would likely contain enough parking spots for its residents, and Miller said the village is seeking additional parking to accommodate businesses.

"People have their own opinions, and I think that's valuable," Roeser said. "My opinion is that it doesn't meet the historic look here."