Roscoe denies blasting request for multi-family project at Hawks Pointe
Contractors claimed blasting would be over quicker than jackhammering.
The Village of Roscoe Committee of the Whole voted Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 to deny a request for blasting tied to sewer installation work for an multi-family development in the Hawks Pointe subdivision, Plat 6, following hours of discussion and public comment from nearby residents.
During the meeting, contractors explained they encountered dolomitic limestone while installing sewer mains at depths of approximately 10 to 15 feet. They presented blasting as an alternative to extended jackhammering, citing reduced duration and fewer days of vibration and noise.
The sewer work runs along the centerline of roadways and is intended to serve the proposed townhome site on Roscoe Road and Old River Road, not the existing single-family homes. Several speakers emphasized that Hawks Pointe has been a residential neighborhood of homes, and residents said they were concerned about blasting activity so close to their properties.
In 2022 and 2023, homeowners opposed the proposed multi-family development in Plat 5 and 6. Two of them, Mike Wright and William Babcock, even ran for the Village of Roscoe Board of Trustees. After their election, trustees rescinded their approval of Plat 6, but the developer successfully sued the Village and the project moved ahead.
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Maps shown during the meeting outlined proposed blasting zones, inspection areas, and seismographic monitoring locations. Contractors explained that inspections would be offered within 500 feet of the blast zone, with vibration monitoring at the closest occupied structures.
Residents raised concerns about foundation damage, past blasting issues in the village, and the village’s existing ordinance that restricts blasting within 1,000 feet of homes. Multiple speakers questioned why an ordinance adopted after previous incidents of damage would be waived.
Others asked whether alternative sewer designs, including grinder pump systems, had been fully explored to avoid blasting or prolonged jackhammering altogether.
After hearing public comment, Village of Roscoe trustees expressed concern about weakening the existing ordinance and the lack of long-term certainty about potential structural impacts. Several members stated they were uncomfortable approving a variance that would reduce the required blasting distance.
The trustees ultimately voted to deny the blasting request. Blasting would not be allowed under the current proposal. Officials said the developer could return with alternative construction methods or revised plans.
The project remains in the infrastructure phase, with future steps dependent on further village review. After the vote, Hawks Pointe homeowner Mary Morgan said residents were pleased with the outcome. “The residents of Hawks Pointe are very happy that the Village Board heard their constituents and acted accordingly,” Morgan said.
