Naperville council tables Freedom Plaza land use vote
Naperville City Council members said they need more time to digest the proposed Freedom Plaza project and would like to learn more about its financial backing.
Meanwhile, the project seems to be gaining support from inside the council and out.
Members tabled the discussion until Nov. 15 following hearty debate Tuesday and pleas from two DuPage County Board members, a former city councilman and several construction union officials.
At the council level, Councilman Steve Chirico joined Paul Hinterlong and Doug Krause in supporting the proposed 165-room full-service Embassy Suites hotel with a 20,000-square-foot conference facility, free-standing Pita Inn restaurant and the CRL River Walk Manor Alzheimer’s assisted-living facility.
Most members support the hotel and restaurant but oppose placing a senior Alzheimer’s residence along the I-88 corridor.
Chirico, who just last week, said he was undecided on the project, made a heartfelt plea to his fellow council members Tuesday to approve the project. He made his decision after touring another facility built by the same developer in Morton Grove.
“This has been a tough decision. I’m a pro-business guy and I believe in job growth. A lot of people I trust and have a great deal of respect for have advised me against it and I can’t figure out why,” he said. “I’m in favor of this project and I’ve finally come to terms with it. I took the time to drive out to Morton Grove and see that facility. It is the type of facility I would feel extremely comfortable putting a parent in. This is the kind of facility we want in Naperville. This would serve the community well.”
Former councilman Dick Furstenau said he told the council his vote would have also gone to the project.
“As a rancher and a farmer, I’d call this piece of property a scrub piece of property. It’s got water problems, access problems and the only way to even see it is when you’re going down the freeway at 85 mph,” Furstenau said. “And you’ve got people who want to come in here and invest millions of dollars on that piece of property and you’ve got a problem? I don’t understand.”
DuPage County Board members Tony Michelassi and Dirk Enger also pleaded with both sides to “come up with a reasonable consensus that brings the benefits to our area sooner rather than later.”
The developer, Indiana-based Superhost Enterprises, says Freedom Plaza would have an economic impact of $153.9 million on Naperville and a $180.6 million on DuPage County over the next five years.
But city staff members and the planning and development committee both recommended against the project because the property is zoned for research and technology offices, hotels and restaurants, not a senior living facility.
Chirico, however, said he believes the developer will “repackage” the proposal during the next six weeks and could possibly win the favor of more of his fellow council members.
Several opposing council members, though, believe the corridor is no place for the Alzheimer’s facility and could he hard to convince otherwise.
Attorney Russ Whitaker, who represents the development, said his clients will use the time to address the council’s concerns regarding the Alzheimer’s facility.
“I’m confident we can get them the rest of the information they need so they can make an informed decision on this project and hopefully approve the land use,” he said.