Loch Lloyd tries again to approve rezoning of controversial housing project

By Kathy Feist

A vote to approve rezoning of a former Loch Lloyd golf course for residential housing was punted to the February 19th Village of Loch Lloyd Board of Trustees meeting with the promise of a written agreement with the developer.  

Residents weighed in at the January 23rd public meeting regarding developer Brian Illig’s proposed development on the Sechrest golf course. 

The plan includes 48 single family homes, walking trails, and the preservation of some of the golf course. At the meeting, a newer plan decreased the number of homes to 44. (The original plan introduced two years ago called for over 100.)

But the number of houses is not what’s at stake. 

At stake is a trust issue. 

In October, Brian Illig and his team were required by the Loch Lloyd Planning and Zoning Commission to meet with the South HOA where the development will be built. Until then, the rezoning was deemed incomplete. Illig did not meet with the South HOA, which is demanding studies regarding water drainage, sewer capacities, traffic impact and design considerations. Many were surprised, then, when the Trustees announced they were prepared to vote on rezoning the Sechrest property at the December meeting, which was moved to January. 

Illig, a multi-billionaire who inherited much of Loch Lloyd from his father, Cerner founder Cliff Illig, claims he is no stranger to the approval process. He has added a new housing development on the west end of the village called Blue Valley and is in the midst of remodeling the Loch Lloyd Country Club. He has future plans for the north end.  However, none of those properties were owned by a Homeowners Association. 

South HOA has threatened that it “cannot allow the use of the private streets and gates to facilitate the proposed development” until the developer has met with them and addressed their concerns.

In a statement to the Telegraph, Illig’s real estate team, Loch Lloyd Residential Real Estate and Development, said  “Our team is adhering to the established practices that have been followed for every development phase at Loch Lloyd. Historically, the Entitlement Process is completed before entering in agreement discussions with the Homeowners Association (HOA).

“Currently, we are focused on the initial step of this process: rezoning the Sechrest property to residential use. The next step in the process, if the rezoning application is approved, is the approval of a detailed development plan. During this step, we are fully committed to conducting additional studies relating to storm water retention, sanitary sewer and water systems, as well as, facilitating open and transparent conversations with all stakeholders.”

Most municipalities require engineering and traffic studies prior to a meeting with the surrounding neighborhood. Then the city approval process begins. The Village of Loch Lloyd does not appear to have those constraints. 

Instead, it hopes to uphold Illig to certain considerations agreed to in a development agreement , which will  be revealed at the Wednesday, February 19th, meeting, starting at 6 pm. If approved, a vote to rezone Sechrest will follow.