Village approves certified survey map for housing

A proposed housing development around Stepping Stones Children’s Center in Belgium drew several neighbors with questions and concerns to Monday’s Village Board meeting.

Ansay Development is planning to put homes and a road surrounding the center off of Park Street.

“We already have enough issues with Park Street. People don’t want to stop at our stop sign,” Jenny Kissinger of 308 Park St. said.

“I lost my voice for yelling. I have little children that are on the (adjacent) Dean Road. I’m scared for them. My grandchild gets screamed at all the time.”

Carmen Kirsch, who lives on Dean Road next to Kissinger, is worried about water.

“We have a ditch in our backyard. We were supposed to keep that ditch,” she said. “Mike Ansay should have never built there. I’ve had three floods already in my basement. We have two sump pumps in there, one ready to go when there’s a lot of rain. What’s going to happen to the ditch? I have a lot of questions.”

Stepping Stones owner Laura Klingelhoets said she is selling her land to Ansay Development Corp. and leasing it back. The land had all been zoned institutional, and now just the school will keep that zoning.

“Stepping Stones has no plan to leave,” she said. “We’re looking for this to go for years and years and years yet.”

The plans aren’t set in stone yet.

“This isn’t final, and we’re not voting on these individual lots or the proposed road right now,” Ansay real estate project manager Brian Lustmann said. “We want to figure out what’s best for the community.”

The board approved a certified survey map but has to wait to change the zoning  from institutional to residential until an ordinance can be drafted, Attorney Brad Hoeft said.