Most Metea neighbors happy to welcome school
For several years, many residents on Bennett Place in Aurora's Cambridge Chase subdivision have enjoyed the relative peace and quiet of the farm abutting their backyards.
They even looked forward to the St. John AME Church that was scheduled to open there.
Never, however, did they guess that their yards would overlook the new 3,000-student Metea Valley High School along nearby Eola Road.
But they will, within two years. And for the most part, neighbors appear fine with it, thanks to the cooperation they say they've received from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 officials.
Pradeep Pavuluri, president of the Cambridge Chase Home Owners Association, said neighbors briefly erupted several weeks ago when the first site plans were released.
"We saw construction routes running parallel with our yards, buses potentially idling within feet of our bedroom windows, and a parking lot and stadium full of lights," said Pavuluri, who lives along Bennett Place. "But we quickly had a very productive meeting with (Aurora) Alderman Lynda Elmore and school officials and they addressed every one of our concerns.
"Now, just about everyone here is very, very happy that the high school is going ahead."
With the help of Elmore, Pavuluri said homeowners were able to meet twice with district officials to get their concerns heard.
Most, he said, are satisfied with the district's promises to install a berm and six-foot privacy fence along the property boundary, to limit buses from idling for more than five minutes and to keep parking lot and security lighting aimed away from their homes.
District project manager Todd DePaul said all of the requests are being honored in the final plans being submitted to Aurora in coming weeks.
"They were all reasonable requests and things we could easily accommodate," DePaul said Thursday. "We've pledged to be good neighbors, so that's what we're working on."
Elmore said any correspondence she has received from her constituents has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Everyone is thrilled where it's being positioned in my ward," she said. "For them, this is a convenience that they're looking forward to enjoying."
Dale Cox, who also lives along Bennett Place, said she knew the farmland wouldn't be there forever so she has no problem with the school.
"We're really easy-going people so we're just thankful for the peace and quiet we've enjoyed for the last six years," she said. "But some school-generated noise isn't going to affect our quality of life."
At Tuesday's Metea groundbreaking ceremony, Superintendent Stephen Daeschner thanked Cambridge Chase residents for their patience and willingness to work with the district.
"They've all been really great and understanding as the project has gotten under way so I suspect we'll have a great relationship," he said.
Elmore was equally complimentary to the district.
"The school has been absolutely delightful to work with," she said. "They've addressed every issue that we raised. If that's an indication of things to come, I don't see how we can't be top-notch neighbors to each other."