Residents, trustees challenge MI Homes' 79-unit Mills Crossing concept; board gives negative feedback

MI Homes presented a concept plan on April 7 for Mills Crossing, a proposed 79-unit, for-sale townhome community on about 7.5 acres near the Vernon Hills Metra station.

Anna Sutton, representing Mi Homes, described a transit-oriented, walkable community with two product types (rear-loaded "Town Square" units and front-loaded "Ardan" units) and architectural upgrades. "We are proposing two different products...approximately 79 homes," Sutton said, noting the project is aimed at buyers who value proximity to transit and walkability.

Public commenters and trustees raised multiple technical and policy concerns. A resident who reviewed the stormwater memo said it showed roughly 3.8 acres of impervious surface—over 50% of the site—and urged staff to apply watershed development rules. Several residents warned about proximity to active rail lines, citing noise and vibration concerns and the limited Metra schedule; one noted freight trains can run at 2 a.m. and that Metra service is limited to seven weekday trains in each direction. Residents and trustees also questioned traffic and access on Illinois 45; staff said an IDOT permit would be required for any change in full access.

Trustees were critical of the proposed density and circulation. Multiple trustees said 79 units on the 7.5-acre site produces a density above what ordinary R6 zoning allows and voiced concerns about small guest-parking provisions (developers had shown roughly 16 guest spots) and a lack of green/gathering space. "As presented, absolutely not," one trustee said; others agreed that the plan needed significant rethinking on density and access before moving forward to planning and zoning.

Developers said technical reviews remain to be completed and that stormwater and traffic engineering would be part of the next steps. The petitioner was given extensive feedback rather than a formal denial; the mayor summarized that the concept review is intended to provide direction before a developer spends significant capital on engineering and that the board's comments should guide any revisions.

Next steps: the developer may revise the proposal, scale density downward or otherwise address the concerns raised. If the project moves forward, it will require rezoning from B1 to R6 (and likely a density variation), a planned unit development, technical stormwater and traffic review, coordination with IDOT and Metra, and school-district engagement.