Lakes at River Bend, Mahomet, Illinois

Mid America Sand and Gravel, a subsidiary of MACC of Illinois, has had an on-going sand and gravel extraction operation near the village of Mahomet since 1975. In 1996, anticipating the long term use of their overall holdings was reaching a predictable end, the company embarked on an end-use plan for a land development project with both residential and commercial components. This development envisions capitalization of the created lakes environment resulting from the industrial use. Planning for the overall 637 acre tract included relocation of an existing township road to both facilitate the long term development, as well as provide a boulevard entrance into the initial phases.

Unique Features

• Boulevard streets
• Open space trails
• Preservation of existing mature trees
• Unique cul-de-sac termini
• Commons area easements
• Transitional landscaping
• Storm water management in concert with Sangamon River flood plain requirements

The first 40-acre phase is complete. The developer is planning future phases with a sensitivity to balance the newly created home sites with the conclusion of the industrial extraction of materials. The home site exposure to the largest of the lakes (80 acres) in this development will be a catalyst for the subsequent phases.

In the interim, an opportunity to meet the regional needs of a river-lake site for the Champaign County Forest Preserve came forth which resulted in the platting of a 387-acre tract for a nature park on the land between the largest of the Lakes at Riverbend lakes and the Sangamon River. The initial development of this park has begun, with additional phases soon to follow.

Long term land use will segue the planned neighborhood commercial segment with the future growth of not only this site, but the overall southern growth corridor of Mahomet. Foth provided planning services and design and construction engineering for this project. Services also included professional expertise for an annexation agreement with the village of Mahomet, setting forth the common interests of both the developer and the community. This agreement, among other objectives, established development text for land uses outside the framework of the then-current ordinances of the village.