Hunter’s Chase Residents Confront Beecher Board Over Lennar Construction Issues

Article Summary: A group of frustrated residents from Beecher’s Hunter’s Chase subdivision attended the July 28 Village Board meeting to voice numerous complaints about Lennar’s new home construction, citing early morning work, property damage, and significant safety concerns, including a recent gas leak allegedly caused by digging without proper utility locates. Village officials listened to the concerns and promised to address the issues with the developer and the village’s contracted inspection service.

Lennar Construction Concerns Key Points:

• Residents reported construction work starting before the village’s 7 a.m. ordinance allows.

• A primary concern was the developer’s alleged failure to call for JULIE utility locates, which residents said resulted in a gas leak.

• Other complaints included heavy equipment tearing up a public easement around a pond, potential damage to roads, and foundation holes being left open and unsecured.

• Village officials, including the attorney and police chief, assured residents they would enforce local ordinances.

BEECHER – Residents of the Hunter’s Chase subdivision have brought a list of serious concerns regarding homebuilder Lennar’s construction practices directly to the Village Board, citing safety violations, property damage, and a disregard for local ordinances.

During the public comment portion of the July 28 board meeting, several residents described a pattern of carelessness at the construction sites. One major issue was work beginning before the village’s permitted 7 a.m. start time.

“I’m sitting out having a coffee at 6:30 a.m. last week and we have truck after truck after truck of gravel rolling in,” resident Sharon H. told the board.

A more serious safety concern involved the developer allegedly digging without first calling for JULIE utility locates. “There were no Julie markings,” the resident said, explaining that the oversight led to a gas leak that required an emergency response from Nicor Gas. “Could have been bad. Luckily it wasn’t.”

Residents also expressed frustration over damage to their neighborhood. They reported that heavy equipment, including an excavator with steel treads, was being driven on a public easement around the subdivision’s pond, tearing up the property. They also voiced worries about damage to area roads from the constant traffic of heavy trucks.

Other safety issues included deep foundation holes being left open with uncapped rebar sticking out, posing a danger to the many small children in the neighborhood.

Village officials and Village Attorney Tim Kuiper listened to the complaints and assured residents the issues would be addressed. Kuiper explained the legal liabilities associated with failing to call for utility locates. Police Chief Terry Lemming advised residents to call the police department immediately if they witness work starting before 7 a.m.

“If they’re operating before 7 a.m., please call the police department. It’s something we can address right away and one ticket will stop them from doing that,” Lemming said.

Board members affirmed they would follow up with Lennar and Safebuilt, the village’s third-party building inspection service, to ensure compliance. “We will absolutely look into it,” said Village President Marcy Meyer. “We’re not looking at having them do things they’re not supposed to do out there.”