Storage on 75th? DuPage zoning board says no
A proposal to build a self-storage facility along 75th Street that's been unpopular with neighbors and the city of Naperville has been rejected by the DuPage County zoning board of appeals as well.
The board voted 6-1 Thursday with one member abstaining to recommend denial of a 730-unit Extra Space storage facility proposed for a 3.5-acre site west of Wehrli Road.
The proposal next will go to the county's development committee and then the full county board.
But the zoning board's opposition to the storage use was a positive sign for neighbors like Tim Donnell, who have organized to present their opposition to what they say would be an industrial facility within a residential neighborhood.
"Last night at the zoning board of appeals, their denial adds to our momentum," Donnell said Friday. "We're pleased. We're happy it's going in this direction."
Developer WM Ventures first sought to build a three-story, 36-foot-tall building to house the storage units. But before the zoning board could weigh in, the developer scaled back the proposal, adding a basement so only two stories and 32 feet of building height would be visible above ground.
That change wasn't enough to satisfy zoning board of appeals members including Mike Loftus, who said he opposed it because there are no other storage facilities in areas with the same zoning classification as the 75th Street property, which is for local convenience businesses.
"Who would build next to this facility?" Loftus said.
If approved, the storage center would replace two houses west of the Walgreens at 75th Street and Wehrli Road. West of the lot are more houses.
DuPage County Zoning Administration Coordinator Paul Hoss said the storage plan now is scheduled to be discussed by the development committee at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 3.
Tracy Kasson, an attorney representing the developer, said Friday he had not yet talked with his client about whether any changes will be made to the proposal before the development committee's review.
After being heard by the development committee, the plan could progress to the county board for approval. Because of a resolution of objection the city of Naperville filed against the project in February, it would need favorable votes from a supermajority of county board members (14 of 18) to gain approval.