ELBURN – Trustee Bill Grabarek smiled and paused for a second Monday night before signifying that, at last, he was ready to cast his vote to support the Elburn Station annexation agreement.

Board members voted unanimously to approve the plan, which clears the way for the ShoDeen development that is slated to bring 2,215 new homes to the village over 20 years. It also removes an obstacle to the extension of Anderson Road, a project that would create a bridge that would provide a crossing of the train tracks that divide the village. Kane County officials had been concerned that $21.7 million in federal, state and local funding could be lost if the debate over Elburn Station were to continue through the summer.

County Board member Drew Frasz said if all goes well, construction could begin by September. Tom Rickert, the deputy director at the Kane County Division of Transportation, said the bridge could be completed by the end of 2014.