Glen Ellyn church’s plan draws opposition
A small group of Christians hoping to use a house near Glen Ellyn as a place of worship first must address DuPage County’s stormwater requirements and concerns from neighbors.
Members of The Church in Glen Ellyn are seeking a conditional-use permit from the county that would allow them to use the residence at 1S550 Route 53 as a religious institution. They say they want to purchase the brick ranch house and use it as a parsonage and meeting place.
“We want to have a testimony in the neighborhood,” said Joel Grosh, a member who spoke on behalf of the church during Thursday night’s zoning board of appeals meeting. “We don’t want to affect the neighbors in any way.”
The plan calls for a 22-space parking lot made of crushed limestone or other permeable surface to eliminate stormwater runoff. Visitors also will be asked to make right turns onto southbound Route 53 when they leave to avoid disrupting traffic flow.
In addition, Grosh said both the 8 p.m. Tuesday prayer meetings and 10 a.m. Sunday worship services aren’t expected to tie up traffic. An average of 25 people from Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Naperville and Downers Grove would attend the Sunday morning service. Fewer than half that number would attend the Tuesday night prayer meeting.
“We want the community members to feel good that we would be a good neighbor,” said Grosh, adding that he probably would live in the house with his wife and their 20-year-old son.
Still, traffic was just one of the concerns a dozen neighbors voiced to zoning board members.
Thomas Turek said his family moved to the neighborhood because it’s an “absolutely quiet” residential area. “There are no commercial structures anywhere there,” he said.
He said he opposes granting the conditional-use permit because he’s worried about the possible appearance of the 1.17-acre property.
“The main concern is it’s going to be a big parking lot,” Turek said. “It’s going to be an eyesore.”
Zoning board Chairman Robert Kartholl reminded church members they might need to have stormwater detention because the property is more than an acre.
“I would highly advise you, before this proceeds, to have a meeting with the stormwater department,” he said.
Zoning board members are expected to make a recommendation about the conditional-use permit application April 7. That recommendation will help guide the DuPage County Board, which makes the final decision on whether the request should be granted.
Neighbor Shannon Houda said she appreciates the fact The Church in Glen Ellyn is seeking permission from the county.
“You guys actually are going about this the proper way,” Houda said to the church members, “instead of just buying the house and having your meetings and making it happen without letting us all know.”