Developers plan to build a new resort, a winery and 882 residences on a 710-acre site on the southeast side of the City of Lake Geneva.
However, the project has generated a significant amount of controversy from residents who say it would be too dense and would diminish the water quality of Geneva Lake. In an unusual step for a proposed real estate development, city officials have decided to ask voters in an advisory referendum in April about whether or not they want the city to approve it.
“Obviously we’re not in support (of having a referendum),” said project executive John Terrell. “It really is about more than just our project. It really is about responsible government, economic development and controlled growth. We believe we’ve put together a very credible and solid plan.”
The developers for the project are Palatine, Ill.-based The Hummel Group Ltd. and Skaneateles, N.Y.-based The Mirbeau Companies, which owns the Mirbeau Inn & Spa in Skaneateles, a AAA-rated four-diamond inn. The site they want to develop is 710 acres located north of Willow Road and west of South Shore Drive. The site is located to the south of Big Foot Beach State Park.
The Lake Geneva development would include a 134,000-square-foot boutique inn called the Mirbeau Retreat, which would have a 100-room inn, 12 villa rooms, a spa, retail space, a restaurant, banquet and conference facilities. In addition, 57 small residential cottages would be built near the inn.
The Lake Geneva area is a popular visitor’s destination, especially for Chicago area residents, with several hotels and resorts. But the Mirbeau inn would be a quiet and relaxing retreat and not a resort with an abundance of activities, Terrell emphasized.
“It’s a place for people to come when they want to get away from their hectic lives,” he said. “It’s a place to get away and reflect on what’s important to you and your family. This is the perfect location for what we are about.”
The rest of the development would consist of 825 homes in different styles (including single family, rowhouses, town homes and duplexes), 46,800 square feet of retail space, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant, a 10,800-square-foot winery and a vineyard.
About 375 acres, or 53 percent of the property, would remain open space.
The development would be built in a series of at least four phases over a 15 to 20-year time frame.
The city’s Plan Commission approved rezoning for the project, but the City Council has delayed taking action, opting for the referendum instead. It is unclear what will happen if voters reject the non-binding advisory referendum for the development.
Some residents opposing the development formed Lower Density Development LLC, which offered to buy the property for $10 million. The offer was ignored by the developers. Also a citizens group called Friends of Geneva Lake has posted information opposing the development on its web page at: www.friendsofgenevalake.com.
Key Walworth County projects:
• Lake Lawn Resort’s $390 million renovation and expansion project continues. The resort has renovated its 222 guest suites and is currently renovating its lobby and conference area. Next the resort will renovate its restaurants and begin construction on 130 new villas. When the entire project is complete Lake Lawn Resort will have a total of 922 guest suites, including the Grand Delavan Hotel with about 590 rooms, a 90,000-square-foot conference center and an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park.
• Schaumburg, Ill.-based Wight Realty Group plans to redevelop the Hillmoor Golf Club in Lake Geneva. Wight’s redevelopment plans include totally rebuilding the golf course, 32 townhouses, up to 242 single family home sites, the hotel, a 17,000-square-foot banquet hall connected to the hotel and 16,000 square feet of retail space along Highway 50.
• Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy Co. Inc. is building a 30,038-square-foot store in Geneva Commons, a retail center that is being developed by Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies US Inc. north of a Home Depot store, which is located northwest of Highway 12 and Highway 50 on the east side of Lake Geneva. Geneva Commons also has a Target store that opened last year.
• Oswego, Ill.-based Primus Corp. plans to build a mixed-use development on 30 acres northwest of Highway 120 and Highway 12 in Lake Geneva. The project will include 54 single family homes, three commercial lots with an 11,000-square-foot chain restaurant, a 33,000-square-foot multi-tenant retail building and a two-story, 12,000-square-foot office building.
• Jenison, Mich.-based Rookus Group wants to build a 100-room boutique hotel and spa southeast of Black Church Road and Fontana Ridge Road, just outside of the Village of Fontana in Walworth County.
