Naperville unveils plans for Fifth Avenue

Naperville planners are recommending medium-density housing and small-scale retail development around the downtown train station on Fifth Avenue.

The city recently released its proposals for land use, parking, transportation and streetscape in the area after months of study and input.

The recommendations will become a guide for future redevelopment proposals that come before the city, according to community planner Rory Fancler.

It focuses on the area around the Metra station and both sides of Washington Street between Benton and Ogden avenues.

The current land-use plan dates to 1998 and among the changes since that time is the recent move of the city's public works facility to the west side of town.

Planners are recommending new buildings not exceed the height of the nearby Fifth Avenue Station complex in the former Kroehler building, which is about 45 feet tall. They also say medium-density single-family, duplex and townhouse units should not exceed eight units per acre and new commercial developments should be "small-scale neighborhood convenience retail and service uses."

Fancler said the recommendations are based on feedback from residents and "take into consideration the character of the existing surrounding neighborhood."

Planners also have drawn three land-use maps showing where they recommend commercial, residential, open space and other uses. The city eventually will narrow the maps down to one.

All three list commercial uses along both sides of Washington Street between Ogden and Fifth avenues and medium density residential just west of the Fifth Avenue Station complex as well as east of Burlington Square Park and in place of the Kroehler parking lot.

They also allow Washington Junior High, the DuPage Children's Museum, Kendall and Burlington Square parks and the Fifth Avenue Station complex to stay put.

Alternative 1 calls for an 842-space parking deck at the southeast corner of Fifth and Washington in place of the Burlington lot and a bus depot along Washington just south of the train tracks on the Parkview lot. Further south on Washington would be mixed-use, which Fancler said provides flexibility for office, commercial or residential uses.

The old public works facility at Fifth Avenue and Loomis Street would be medium-density residential.

Alternative 2 is similar in its recommendation for an 842-space parking deck and medium-density residential at the site of the public works facility. However, there would be no bus depot and it calls specifically for offices in addition to mixed uses along Washington south of the tracks.

Alternative 3 calls for surface parking lots to remain along Washington both north and south of the tracks and would add a 290-space lot in place of the public works facility.

Land along Washington Street south of the Parkview lot would be both mixed use and commercial.

In all, Alternatives 1 and 2 each result in 40 fewer off-street commuter parking spaces than the current 1,025 while Alternative 3 would have 47 fewer spaces.

So far, the city has received one formal development proposal for the Fifth Avenue area, a condo development on the east side of Ellsworth between Fourth and North avenues that would have offices and retail on the ground floor. Staff issued a response to the petitioner but has not received any resubmitted materials.

Proponents of another proposal to create the Omnia Performing Arts Center have submitted a general concept to the city but have not turned in a formal detailed development petition.

The city will hold a joint forum with the plan commission and transportation advisory board to discuss the Fifth Avenue recommendations at 7 p.m. March 5 at the municipal center, 400 S. Eagle St.

Fifth Avenue recommendations

Naperville planners have come up with draft recommendations for development guidelines around the downtown Metra station.

• New buildings should not exceed the height of the existing Kroehler building (about 45 feet)

• For properties designated medium-density residential, the single-family, duplex and townhouse units should not exceed eight units per acre

• Reuse/conversion of existing residential-style buildings for nonresidential uses along Washington Street should be encouraged where appropriate

• Design of new buildings should be compatible with the character of the existing community

• Development and redevelopment along Washington Street should provide or reserve cross-access to adjacent properties where appropriate

• New commercial development should be limited to small-scale neighborhood convenience retail and service uses

• Non-residential development should provide a landscape buffer from existing residential properties.

Source: City of Naperville

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