Hawthorn Woods and Lake Zurich Residents,
Thank you for signing the “Stop the destruction of our forested area by Meadow Wood East Subdivision Development” petition. We want to share several important updates and strongly encourage you to attend the upcoming Lake Zurich Board Meeting to ensure your voices are heard and officially entered into the public record.
Location: Lake Zurich Village Hall
70 East Main Street, Lake Zurich
Monday, December 1st
7:00–8:00 PM
Recently, many of us received a message from a Lake Zurich Trustee via Change.org urging residents to attend “the next board meeting” to share our concerns. This is that meeting, and the stronger our turnout, the clearer our message will be.
Please note: it is not certain that this development will be discussed on the official agenda. However, if we attend in significant numbers, the Board will either need to hear our comments or clearly direct us to the correct meeting for public input. (The following Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 15th.)
Background Information
Lack of Notification for the Original Hearing
Adjacent Hawthorn Woods residents were not notified by letter about the original hearing, reportedly held in August. When the Village of Hawthorn Woods administration contacted the Village of Lake Zurich about this, they were incorrectly told that residents had been notified.
For many of us, the first awareness of the proposed development came in September, when the developer was seen walking through several residents’ backyards, stating that the land would soon be developed.
Destruction of an Important Natural Wildlife Corridor
The proposed development sits on a critical natural corridor used daily by deer, foxes, owls, cranes, coyotes, and numerous other species that inhabit the forested areas between Hawthorn Woods and Lake Zurich.
This area serves as one of the few remaining continuous, undisturbed pathways for wildlife to move safely between habitats, access food sources, and maintain stable populations. Replacing this corridor with dense housing on very small lots would:
Sever the movement routes for many species
Eliminate nesting and feeding sites
Increase wildlife–vehicle collisions
Cause long-term ecological disruption to the surrounding communities
This corridor is a natural asset for both villages, and losing it would have irreversible consequences.
Minimal Response from Lake Zurich Officials
In response to learning about the proposal, residents quickly organized, gathered information, and sent numerous emails to Lake Zurich officials expressing concerns.
Aside from a single acknowledgment promising a full response “within the next week” (which never occurred), no replies were received.
“Critical Housing Shortage in Lake County” Claim
The Trustee’s message referenced an “acute housing shortage in Lake County” as a justification for the proposed development. However, this raises important questions:
Shortly after the preliminary approval, the developer listed the property for sale, attempting to sell it for nearly double the recent purchase price.
(Listing: https://www.komarrealestate.com/listing-detail/1172709947/0-Manchester-RD-Lake-Zurich-IL
The listing highlights nearby homes “selling up to a million dollars” and promotes the parcel as an investment opportunity. This suggests that any future homes on these very small lots would likely be priced near $1 million.
It is difficult to see how the construction of approximately 15 high-end homes would meaningfully address an “acute housing shortage.”
This raises a reasonable question: What is the true purpose of the Village of Lake Zurich’s support for this development?
Your Voice Matters!!! Please Attend on December 1st
We urge every resident to join us at the meeting on December 1st. A strong community presence will ensure that our concerns about environmental impact, wildlife displacement, property value, drainage issues, and communication transparency are seen and heard.
Thank you again for your advocacy and for standing together to protect our forested area.