SYCAMORE – The owner of a Sycamore apartment complex is asking the city for permission to increase the number of buildings and housing units in Old Mill Park, documents show.

Brian Grainger, a real estate agent with O’Neil Property Group, is the namesake of Grainger Properties, which operates six different condominiums in Sycamore. He has filed a petition to amend a special use permit application that will be presented to the Sycamore Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday. The commission meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the City Center, 308 W. State St.

In an Aug. 2 letter to City Manager Michael Hall, Community Development Director John Sauter wrote that Grainger wants to increase the number of housing units in its complex (16 with 21 buildings) from four to six units in the second phase of its Old Mill Park development.

The application envisages development of the almost 19 hectare complex.

“The development proposed by Mr. Grainger is considered medium density and therefore the recommended density under the City’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan is three to six units per acre,” Sauter wrote. “While the addition of 32 additional units would result in a density slightly above the recommended three to six units per acre, it is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Comp Plan. The density does not conflict with the intent (of the Unified Development Ordinance) for (planned unit developments), nor would it be detrimental to neighboring residential and commercial areas.”

The amendment to Grainger’s multifamily housing application would allow him to increase the number of housing units in the development, which is located on the northwest corner of Route 23 and Mount Hunger Road in Sycamore.

If his application is approved, Old Mill Park’s development would expand from 84 to 116 housing units, according to city documents.

Sauter wrote that Grainger’s request was “the result of increasing interest from potential buyers who want smaller apartments with the same amenities.”

However, the City Planning and Zoning Commission does not have the final say. The application still has to be approved by the Sycamore City Council.

If approved, the complex would include a mix of four- and six-unit buildings, according to plans. All four-unit buildings would have two covered parking spaces and two outdoor parking spaces. In the six-unit buildings, the two-bedroom apartments would also be allowed two outdoor parking spaces and two parking spaces.

The one-bedroom units in the larger buildings would have a covered space and an outdoor area.

According to city documents, the complex will have 116 residential units and 53 guest parking spaces.

The city asked Grainger to submit several traffic studies on the development. According to city documents, the results showed that westbound traffic on Mount Hunger Road would not impede traffic toward the apartment complex.

The Illinois Department of Transportation also requested changes to the rights-of-way along Route 23 near the apartment complex, which Grainger will be responsible for, according to city documents.

Sauter wrote that the city had no problems with IDOT’s request.

“The City has no objection to the requested paved path in place of the previously approved concrete sidewalk. However, maintenance of all paths and walkways is the responsibility of the homeowners association as per the previously approved development agreement,” Sauter wrote.