By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer

HOWARD – A preliminary Planned Development District (PDD) to create a multi-use housing development along Woodland Road with 204 units was approved Monday, Nov. 23, by the village board.

As proposed, the project known as Toonen Woodland Hills calls for 18 10-unit apartment buildings, two seven-unit townhome buildings and two five-unit townhome buildings.

A preliminary PDD was recommended a week earlier by the Howard Plan Commission with the following considerations:

• An additional emergency access (not driveway) is put in along the west property line along the pond to Woodland Road.

• Curb and gutter is installed throughout the entire development.

• The conservancy area along the north property boundary is dedicated to the village for a trail.

• The proposed drive on Woodland is moved further away from the Woodland Road/Sherwood Street intersection.

• Woodland Road is reconstructed to an urban section with utilities along the south property frontage.

The board added a sixth condition to have a right-in/right-out off of Sherwood Street as a third way to enter and exit the property.

Steve Bieda of Mau & Associates, who appeared before the board on behalf of the project, said he didn’t have a problem with the access points and conditions sought by the village.

“We have a lot of green space on this site,” he said. “The density… for 7.5 units an acre is actually rather low density for a multi-family project.”

Following preliminary approval, Community Development Director Dave Wiese said the PDD must go back to the commission and then to the board to receive final approval.