33.7-Acre Pheasant Run Retail Plan Advances in St. Charles

Vequity’s revised plan for The Shops at Pheasant Run, a 33.7-acre commercial redevelopment at East Main Street and Kautz Road in St. Charles, Illinois, received preliminary approval in September 2026. The proposal calls for 18 to 25 businesses on the former resort property, with a final St. Charles City Council vote still ahead.

Daily Herald reports that the revised plan advanced in a 6-3 vote after an earlier proposal was rejected a month before. The changes limit drive-through development and establish waiting periods for several center lots and a potential car dealership.

For contractors and suppliers, the proposal represents a multi-lot commercial construction prospect rather than a single building assignment. Preliminary plans name Chase Bank, Valvoline Instant Oil Change and Dutch Bros Coffee, while development of additional lots will require future city approval.

Key Project Facts

• Project type: Commercial redevelopment known as The Shops at Pheasant Run.
• Location: East Main Street and Kautz Road, St. Charles, Illinois.
• Size: 33.7 acres, with 18 to 25 businesses planned.
• Owner/Developer: Vequity, based in Chicago, Illinois.
• Concept plan submission: SC Landman submitted a concept plan in 2025.
• Named preliminary businesses: Chase Bank, Valvoline Instant Oil Change and Dutch Bros Coffee.
• Stage: Revised preliminary plans approved in a 6-3 vote; final council action remains pending.
• Development restrictions: A 30-month waiting period for several center lots and a five-year waiting period for a potential dealership, subject to a possible council waiver for the dealership.

33.7-Acre Redevelopment Combines Retail and Service Uses

The Shops at Pheasant Run covers the last portion of the former resort property to be redeveloped. The resort closed in 2020 and was badly damaged by fire in 2022; other portions of the property have been sold for car dealerships and an industrial park.

The current preliminary program combines banking, automotive service and coffee uses. Chase Bank, Valvoline Instant Oil Change and Dutch Bros Coffee are the three businesses specifically identified in the preliminary construction plans.

The broader development anticipates 18 to 25 businesses. Additional lots remain subject to future city approval, making the distinction between the named preliminary buildings and the eventual full-site program important for firms evaluating the opportunity.

SC Landman submitted a concept plan for The Shops at Pheasant Run in 2025. Vequity owns the property and has revised its proposal through the city’s review process.

Drive-Through Limits Change the Commercial Building Mix

The revised plan limits the developer to five already-proposed drive-throughs and a sixth for a future business. Any additional drive-through would require a special-use request to the city.

According to the Daily Herald report, Vequity owner and founder Christopher Ilekis said the reduction in drive-through businesses allows more retail, restaurant and shop space. He said drive-through space would account for 9% of the development’s building square footage.

These restrictions affect the uses that can proceed under the current proposal. Contractors evaluating future tenant buildings should distinguish between the six permitted drive-through opportunities and any additional drive-through concept that would need separate review.

• Five proposed drive-throughs and one future drive-through are allowed under the revised plan.
• Additional drive-throughs require special-use review.
• Car washes are prohibited on most lots unless a special-use request receives council approval.
• A future gas station proposal would be subject to restrictions.

The revisions therefore shape more than tenant selection: they establish approval conditions that could affect the scope and timing of individual commercial building packages.

30-Month and Five-Year Waiting Periods Affect Lot Timing

Vequity committed to a 30-month waiting period for several center lots. The intent is to give the developer time to secure tenants such as a grocery store, fitness center or entertainment venue.

Those uses are possibilities rather than confirmed construction assignments. For pursuit planning, the center lots should be treated separately from the named preliminary bank, oil-change and coffee buildings.

One lot is proposed for a car dealership. Gary McGrath, who owns two nearby dealerships, is seeking to build another dealership on the Pheasant Run property.

The current plan imposes a five-year waiting period before a potential dealership can be built on that lot. The council could waive that restriction based on a specific project submission, and the lot could be used for vehicle inventory storage in the meantime.

The overall development also awaits a final council vote at a future meeting. The preliminary approval does not eliminate the requirement for future city approvals for additional lots.

Construction Considerations for a Multi-Lot Commercial Site

The combination of a bank, coffee business and automotive service building could involve different building-service and tenant-improvement requirements. Contractors should evaluate each proposed building as a distinct scope rather than assuming a uniform retail fit-out across the property.

At the site level, a 33.7-acre development with multiple businesses and drive-through uses could require coordination of utility distribution, vehicle circulation, parking and pedestrian access. These are potential estimating and coordination considerations, not confirmed bid packages.

The waiting periods also matter when assessing construction sequencing. The center-lot restrictions and potential dealership delay mean contractors should not assume every parcel will advance on the same schedule.

For suppliers, the named preliminary uses provide a more specific basis for monitoring potential demand than the broader tenant possibilities. A grocery store, fitness center, entertainment venue or dealership would introduce a different construction program if subsequently approved.

Construction Trades Involved

With The Shops at Pheasant Run still in the approvals stage, the proposed commercial buildings and multi-lot site could involve a range of site-development, building-shell and interior trades.

Potential trades include:

• Site preparation and clearing
• Earthwork and grading
• Excavation
• Underground utility installation
• Storm drainage
• Concrete foundations and slabs
• Structural steel
• Masonry
• Asphalt paving
• Concrete curbs and sidewalks
• Roofing
• Exterior cladding
• Storefront glazing
• Insulation
• Metal-stud framing and drywall
• Mechanical and HVAC systems
• Plumbing
• Electrical distribution and lighting
• Fire protection
• Doors and hardware
• Flooring
• Painting
• Casework and millwork
• Landscaping

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is The Shops at Pheasant Run located?

The proposed development occupies 33.7 acres at East Main Street and Kautz Road on the eastern edge of St. Charles, Illinois, on part of the former Pheasant Run Resort property.

Has the revised redevelopment plan received final approval?

No. The revised preliminary plans received a 6-3 approval vote in September 2026. The council will take a final vote at a future meeting, and additional lot development will require future city approval.

Which businesses are included in the preliminary plans?

The preliminary plans call for construction of a Chase Bank, Valvoline Instant Oil Change and Dutch Bros Coffee. The overall development anticipates 18 to 25 businesses.

The Shops at Pheasant Run gives commercial contractors and suppliers a defined redevelopment to track through final review and subsequent lot approvals. Pursuit decisions should account for the named preliminary buildings, use restrictions and separate waiting periods rather than treating the full 33.7 acres as one immediate construction package.

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