Glen Ellyn village board approves Montessori school in vacant church

A controversial Montessori school was given the go-ahead Monday night in Glen Ellyn.

After more than three hours of public comment and deliberation, the village board agreed that the Diamante Montessori School should be allowed to move into a vacant church spot.

Trustees James Comerford, Peter Norton, Michelle Thorsell and Village President Vicky Hase voted for the proposal. Trustee Peter Ladesic voted "present" because he said he wanted more time to consider the idea. Trustee Mary Jane Chapman was absent, and trustee Timothy Armstrong recused himself.

The school currently operates out of St. Mark's Church and wants to move about two blocks east to 625 Hillside Ave., a property left open by Christ Church.

The location at the corner of Park Boulevard and Hillside Avenue is part of a residential neighborhood filled with single-family homes.

Plans for the school include a one-way driveway from Hillside to Park to allow preschool students to be picked up or dropped off.

In February, the plan commission gave a positive recommendation to the school's move after five lengthy public hearings.

Neighbors reiterated many of the problems they have with the proposal, such as traffic and safety concerns, the noise and pollution school activities will create for adjacent residents and the drop in property values that will come with a school moving into a residential area.

Carl Cepuran, who lives next to the property and shares the driveway easement with the school, asked the board to spend more time considering the proposal before taking a vote.

"This decision can't be reversed or changed," he said. "It doesn't stop once the business stops."

However, Village President Vicky Hase took issue with the notion that the board has not given the issue its due consideration.

"We have spent a lot of time on this topic," she said. "I think this board understands the topic quite well."

Cepuran argued that many questions were never answered by the plan commission.

"This site is apples and oranges compared to St. Mark's," Cepuran said.

Residents also talked about car accidents that have taken place at Park and Hillside.

They argued the increased traffic brought in by the school would just exacerbate that situation and create a larger hazard for drivers.

"We are already suffering from traffic congestion," said Greg Freerksen, who said his son was involved in an accident at that intersection. "I am shocked that this has gotten as far as it has."