75th Street proposal meets some opposition

Naperville's planning staff is recommending a mix of residential and commercial developments along 75th Street.

But some residents in that area are voicing their opposition, saying they don't want business developments near their homes.

The city presented its proposal at a contentious public meeting Thursday night. The land use plan is intended to guide future developments in the area along 75th Street between Washington Street to the west and the city's boundary at Palomino Drive to the east.

"We said from the outset (recommendations) would be based on multiple factors -- planning principles, site context and appropriateness ... marketability, compatibility, accessibility, public and stakeholder input, and results of market studies," said Allison Laff, planning team leader.

Recommendations for land use in the area include:

• Low-density residential (detached single-family homes), mostly along the south side of 75th just east of Washington. The city would also consider home-to-office conversions for this area.

• Offices on the north side of 75th Street just east of Washington. These wouldn't exceed two stories in height.

• Commercial uses at two intersections -- the northeast and northwest corners of 75th and Naper Boulevard and the southeast and southwest corner of 75th and Wehrli Road. This would be limited to include neighborhood convenience retail and service uses.

• Medium-density residential units (single-family detached or two-family or single-family or attached housing) north and south of 75th just west of the commercial development at Wehrli.

• A mix of residential and non-residential units at the southwest corner of 75th and Naper. The primary use would be residential.

• A small number of institutional units such as churches, day care facilities, schools and nursing homes scattered north of 75th Street.

Much of the area is actually unincorporated, but Laff said developers could request to be annexed into the city if they chose. The recommendations are not meant to force rezoning or annexation.

The city also is studying transportation, corridor enhancement and open space in the area.

About 40 to 50 residents turned out for Thursday's meeting. Many of those who expressed their opinions were opposed to further commercial development in the 75th Street corridor, saying it would harm the quality of life for nearby residents.

Debbie Hojnicki, who lives in the area, said if there is any commercial development it should be contained to the east and fears, in the current recommendations, that there's nothing to stop it from spreading.

"When it's on the (intersections) right in the middle you know it's going to go like wildfire right out to the edges," she said.

Her husband, Jim, also said he feels there has been a "total disregard" for traffic issues, especially during the school year. Meadow Glens Elementary is nearby.

Laff said earlier in the meeting the land uses must be "feasible and achievable" and that recommending nothing but single-family homes doesn't fall into these categories. The market data the city collected shows a need for some retail, she said.

The city has conducted numerous meetings and surveys to get public input, but some residents said they felt like their voices haven't been heard. Laff said there would likely be even more commercial development if the city hadn't taken resident input into consideration.

To view the staff's recommendations, visit www.naperville.il.us/75street.aspx. Residents can fill out a comment form that may be sent to Ying Liu at liuy@naperville.il.us or 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL 60540 by June 19.

There will be also be further discussion during open houses at 7 p.m. July 17 and 22.

The proposal will likely go before the plan commission in August and could make it to the city council in September or October.