Airport community near Naperville hoping to retain 'residential' feel

A proposal that could annex 6.3 acres along Route 59 into the city of Naperville and allow construction of a carpet and granite warehouse has some neighbors worried their area might be harmed by commercial development.

Thirty-five residents of the unincorporated Aero Estates subdivision - an airpark community east of Route 59 between 79th and 83rd streets - have signed a petition against a proposal that could bring the land near their homes into the city and rezone it for commercial use.

Yet among neighborhood residents, there is a split.

Some want to fight the annexation request filed by Christina Martinez to ensure nothing retail or commercial is built on the sites.

"The biggest thing is that this is a residential-only community," Aero Estates resident Erika Selig said. "We don't want any commercial property or shopping district."

Others say they'd like to compromise, but to ensure no land on Aero Drive, which lies one block east of Route 59 in their subdivision, is zoned for commercial use.

Neighbors taking both stances say they think Route 59 already has enough commercial properties, including many vacant business buildings, so constructing more is not the smartest option.

But if there must be a compromise, Aero Estates resident Stuart Glenn said the ideal pact would allow development along Route 59 while still maintaining a buffer between businesses and homes.

"Our concern would be to really try to keep Aero Drive itself residential," Glenn said.

At issue are two requests for annexation and rezoning that could bring World Missions Society Church of God into the city along with three properties south of the church at 9S065, 9S080 and 9S081 South Route 59.

If approved, the requests would allow construction of a 15,000-square-foot commercial building to be split between a 12,400-square-foot Best Buy Carpet & Granite warehouse and a 2,600-square-foot storefront with a drive-through window.

The plan needs the church's cooperation because without it, the three lots to the south would not be contiguous to the city and couldn't be annexed.

Chris Cha, the church's office manager, said the congregation wants to become part of the city to gain water and sewer services and wants to annex now because the carpet store developer has offered to share the costs of hooking up to infrastructure.

Although its land could be zoned commercial, the church would be allowed to remain as a nonconforming use.

Residents say they fear commercial development so near their homes could decrease property values.

They say it could increase cut-through traffic on Aero Drive and threaten safety for pilots flying out of the runway that is part of the community.

Residents also question why city staff would support commercial zoning for the sites when the city's 2002 Southwest Area Plan designated the lots as multifamily residential.

Allison Laff, deputy director of transportation, engineering and development, said the trend of development along Route 59 makes commercial zoning appropriate, and Mayor Steve Chirico agreed, calling the road "undeniably a commercial corridor."

That's why the city is working with the church to pursue a compromise.

The deal would require the church to resubmit its annexation request to seek split zoning for the eight separate lots that make up its 4.7-acre property.

Split zoning would allow the four lots on Aero Drive to retain a residential classification, while the lots to the west could be zoned commercial.

"It would be a very reasonable remedy for the people who are rightfully concerned," Chirico said.

Cha said the church is considering split zoning but hasn't come to a conclusion.

"It's just way too early for us to say one way or the other," she said.

The annexation and rezoning requests are expected to be considered by the city council, but Laff said a date has not yet been set.