No DuPage ban on religious buildings

Religious groups soon won’t have to worry about being prohibited from opening facilities in DuPage County’s unincorporated residential neighborhoods.

DuPage officials on Thursday night are planning to ask the county’s zoning board of appeals to table that controversial idea so another plan could be drafted to address parking, traffic and building size issues related to places of assembly.

The county board development committee directed county staff to make the request after a lengthy discussion Tuesday about proposed zoning law amendments that would apply to future churches, mosques and other places of assembly.

Committee members said new places of assembly should be allowed in residential areas as long as certain requirements are met.

Still, county board member Grant Eckhoff said officials want to balance the rights of property owners and their neighbors.

“Right now, our zoning code doesn’t do an adequate job of protecting neighbors,” Eckhoff said. “So what we’re trying to do ... is preserve the residential character of our neighborhoods but recognize the fact that religious institutions are part of that residential character.”

Eckhoff said he wants a set of zoning changes that would prevent the construction of “huge” structures that overshadow a neighborhood. None of the text amendments would apply to projects already being considered by the county, including several proposed mosques.

One of the suggestions, which deals with parking, could be reviewed Thursday by the zoning board of appeals.

If that idea adopted, a future religious facility would be required to provide one parking space for every two seats in its main worship area. Right now, the county requires one parking space for every four seats.

Another possible change would require structures to be connected to public sewer and water service. It would address a concern voiced by county officials that existing sewers and septic and well systems in unincorporated residential areas weren’t designed to support new places of assembly.

Eckhoff said he also wants greater restrictions on the size of religious buildings. That would be possible by reducing the county’s allowable floor area ratio and establishing a criteria for lot coverage.

To address concerns about traffic, places of assembly in residential areas might only be allowed along major roadways. Another suggestion would prohibit organizations from converting an existing single-family house.

With the exception of the parking requirement, it’s going to be another month before there’s a draft of the proposed text amendments.

In the meantime, some are asking officials to avoid any zoning changes that would make it too difficult for religious uses to locate in residential neighborhoods.

“In this circumstance, the devil is in the details,” said Amy Lawless Ayala, a lead organizer with DuPage United. “If the restrictions are so restrictive, they could have the same effect as banning it from residential.”