The Cicero Town Council has approved a new housing development just outside town limits, despite pushback from nearby residents.

The council met on August 19, 2025, at the Red Bridge Community Building to allow more space for what was expected to be a large and vocal crowd. On the agenda were two ordinances tied to a proposed Estridge Development project east of Cicero, near 236th Street and Deming Road.

Both ordinances—one to rezone the land from agricultural to residential, and another to establish a planned unit development (PUD) called Hinkle Ridge—passed unanimously.

Details of the Development

Estridge Homes plans to build about 170 high-end houses, priced between $750,000 and $2 million, averaging 1.4 homes per acre. The project will include trails, a park, and a pedestrian bridge across 40 acres of wooded land. Company CEO Clint Mitchell said the neighborhood will have more green space and lower density than any Estridge project to date, appealing to both families and empty nesters.

Community Concerns

Public comment was limited to 90 seconds per person, and 15 residents spoke—all in opposition.

Neighbors raised concerns about:

Flooding and drainage issues from runoff

Traffic and road safety in the area

Limited emergency services access given the site’s distance from fire and medical stations

Noise, crime, and disruption of rural character

Lack of direct outreach from the developer

Several also pointed out that, while the site falls within Cicero’s two-mile territorial jurisdiction, residents there cannot vote for Town Council members—yet are still affected by their decisions.

Council’s Position

Council members acknowledged the concerns but highlighted that the development’s scale and design would set a “high standard” for future projects. They contrasted it with a previous proposal by Lennar Homes, which sought to build 700 houses at more than three homes per acre, a project that was ultimately rejected.

The council voted 5-0 in favor of both ordinances.

The next Cicero Town Council meeting is scheduled for September 2, 2025, at Town Hall.