Naperville sets priorities for downtown's future

If Naperville's Downtown 2030 plan was one large-scale project, members of the Naperville City Council and the Downtown Advisory Commission began handling the punch-list items Monday night.

During a joint four-hour workshop, members worked to solidify the boundaries of downtown commercial development while guaranteeing single-family homes remain single-family homes on the city's west side.

The council also reached a consensus on proposed changes to how the Downtown Core and Secondary Downtown zoning districts are defined to more clearly distinguish between intensive downtown core uses like retail districts from the secondary downtown, where retail is phased out and setback requirements are loosened.

The group also agreed to restrict the height of downtown core developments along Benton Street to 60 feet and secondary downtown uses to 50 feet to accommodate three- or four-story development.

“The height reduction from 60 feet to 40 feet attempts to recognize the topography of the area and offer a transition to the outlying residential uses,” Community Planner Amy Emery said.

Members also agreed to codify zoning and height restrictions in the North Downtown Special Planning Area, a combined area of roughly three blocks north and west of Benton Avenue and Washington Street, extending slightly west of Main Street.

The group also tackled the transportation and parking portions of the Downtown 2030 plan.

Group Leader Marcie Schatz from Naperville's Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group a group of city engineers from all departments said the city's unique transportation network requires a balanced approach and relies on more and more commuters using their bicycles.

“The amount of bicycle traffic we have seen in this community grow over the last 10 years has been absolutely immense,” she said. “Biking has taken on a far greater presence in this community than it ever has and we have no reason to believe that would ever stop.”

“I think the continuous model we've got has proved to be a good thing,” said Councilman Richard Furstenau on the city's parking improvement model. “It's been kind of surprising to me that we've got as much available as we do.”

The action agenda for Downtown 2030 was also unveiled Monday night, prioritizing prerequisite work to implement the 2030 plan.

Furstenau praised the overall plan, but made sure the council has the final say before that work begins.

“I think this is a very good summation of what needs to be done in all of the different areas. I think there's been a time spent on it as well,” he said. “Left to everybody's own devices, this could get very expensive, very quickly.”

The Downtown 2030 plan will go back to the Downtown Advisory Commission for recommendation at its Dec. 9 meeting. The city council is likely to adopt the plan in January or February 2011.