Commission approves concept plan for 68‑unit Royal Highlands residential development

The Lockport Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously April 8 to approve a concept plan for Royal Highlands Estates, a proposed 68‑unit residential community on approximately 24.14 acres south of 141st Street between Smith Road and Basham Drive.

Planning staff said Rally Homes LLC’s concept plan calls for 26 single‑family homes on the west portion of the site and 21 duplex buildings (42 units) on the east portion, for a total of 68 units. Staff described about 8.5 acres of open space, proposed landscape buffers, and two general locations for wet‑bottom detention basins; the developer would bring city water and sewer to the site and would need to submit stormwater and traffic studies during the preliminary and final plan phases.

Commissioners discussed compatibility with the city’s 2021 comprehensive plan, which advises lighter density on the west and somewhat denser residential on the east. A commissioner asked whether the project could trigger an intersection signal at Basham and Archer; staff said the Illinois Department of Transportation did not require a signal for a nearby 240‑unit project and would likely not impose one for a 68‑unit development.

Staff noted that detailed floor plans and price points are not set at the concept stage; single‑family lots were described as being about 10,000 square feet. “Concept plan approvals are valid for one year from the date of the approval,” staff said, adding that final design and stormwater sizing would follow with later submissions.

Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Peters seconded approval of the concept plan subject to staff’s listed conditions; the roll call vote was unanimous (Quinn, Calderon, Peters, Lyens, Mchuk, Georgetti). The item will be placed on the committee of the whole agenda on April 15 for council consideration. The developer and staff will return with more detailed engineering, stormwater and landscape plans if the council approves the concept plan.