Will Naperville council approve hospital rezoning?

Residents living adjacent to the southern border of Edward Hospital's Naperville campus expect a vote during tonight's city council meeting on a controversial rezoning proposal.

However, they may not like the results of that vote.

"We're getting a bad vibe, but nobody wants to believe it," said Mike Webster, an attorney representing one of the eight homeowners who are impacted by a proposed variance to the new health services zoning district.

The council is poised to approve a proposal that would limit construction height on the campus, except at the southern border.

"I think it's going to move forward and the hospital's going to have the votes to have the health services district the way the hospital has agreed to have it," said Councilman Bob Fieseler.

The way hospital officials have agreed to have it is with a 120-foot tower 50 feet from the backyards of several adjacent neighbors. Anywhere else on the campus, a building that high would have to be constructed 250 feet from other property lines.

Neighbors have been fighting the variance for nearly a year. At one point, hospital officials offered to buy the eight affected properties. Those talks never came to fruition with each side blaming the other over negotiating tactics.

The city pursued rezoning the hospital campus because existing zoning allows the hospital to essentially build unchecked. Hospital officials said they will need the expansion in five to 10 years to cover the growth of an aging population.

Hospital officials initially said they would only need the 175- to 200-bed expansion if plans for a Plainfield hospital were not approved. They have since recanted that statement and claimed the expansion was always needed in Naperville.

"There is a current need here, but it will be there years down the road," said hospital spokesman Keith Hartenberger. "There will be a need regardless of Plainfield."

Initially, city staff had argued against the variance, but changed course after working with hospital officials and seeing renderings of what the tower would look like.

Instead of building the 120-foot tall expansion 30 feet from the property line, hospital officials now are proposing a staggered tower. The first 60 feet in height would be built 30 feet away, then the building would push back 20 feet and the second 60 feet would go up 50 feet from the border.

Residents argue the new proposal isn't much of a compromise.

"Those of us who are closest to this have already suffered financially," said Phillip Kapela, one of the eight homeowners in the impacted area. "Look, I just want the hospital and city council to remember that if the logic is, for the greater good, some have to suffer, I don't like being among the small group who has to suffer."

Councilmen who favor the rezoning proposal in its current state say it provides building limitations that aren't now in place.

"We are going to be able to have specificity in what the hospital is able to do," said Councilman James Boyajian.

Hospital officials said the location of the proposed tower is optimum because it is close to other hospital amenities, like the emergency room and operating suites.

However, there is no requirement from the state agency that oversees medical facility construction that new beds need to be located near any specific amenities.

Ultimately, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board will decide the fate of the actual construction proposal. Edward officials said they have not submitted any plans to that agency.

Tonight's city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at city hall, 400 S. Eagle St.