Rolling Meadows church expansion plans spark debate with neighbors
St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church along Route 53 in Rolling Meadows has proposed construction of a two-story, 26,000-square-foot addition for a new gymnasium, day care and youth retreat center.
But neighbors in the unincorporated Plum Grove Estates subdivision — bordering the church property to the north, west and south — complain the new building will exacerbate flooding in the area, increase traffic, and won’t be architecturally compatible with their residential neighborhood of spacious lot sizes and abundant foliage.
The church is seeking a special use permit for the expansion at 3839 W. Frontage Road — the northern sanctuary on its campus that was acquired when Bethel Lutheran Church closed in 2016.
The new day care would be open to the public and have capacity for 50 children and 15 staff. The 33-bed retreat center with separated bathrooms and showers would host overnight boarding rooms for summer camps. Landscaping outside would include the preservation of two trees that are more than 200 years old, and planting of 38 trees in addition to other shrubs and perennials, plans show.
Church leaders say their plan addresses a critical shortage for licensed day care in the area, and the gym will provide needed programming space for youth sports and fitness classes.
“We are trying to pull our youth away from screens and other things on social media,” said Meena George, a church board member and Sunday school coordinator. She added kids currently play outside in the church’s parking lot. “The church opens its doors to everyone. We love our neighbors. We are taught to love our neighbors and we love our community. We want to make this work for all parties involved.”
But residents who spoke at a city council meeting earlier this week raised concerns with increased traffic the development could bring. Some fear a proposed stormwater retention pond on the south side of the church campus will be insufficient for an area that’s had a history of flood control issues. Others complained the plan would remove nine mature trees to make way for the building addition.
John Carpenter, who lives across the street from where the gym would be built, said he’s concerned property values could decline.
“I love this church. I love everything about it. But I did not invest in this community so I could have a day care center and a gymnasium next to me,” Carpenter said. “Sorry, but it’s a church.”
Though they encouraged the church and community to meet at an open house to discuss the plans, most city officials seem to be on board with the proposal. The council voted 6-0 to advance the project to a final second reading vote Jan. 13.
Alderman Mike Koehler, who represents the 7th Ward where the church is located, cited traffic and parking studies that conclude there is sufficient parking in the 213-space lot to support the expansion. And, he said, the only time there’s vehicle congestion is when the church hosts its annual Egypt Fest.
Koehler also argued the city should consider “fair and equitable treatment” of religious institutions, many of which have youth programming.
“I see no reason why we would not support St. Mary’s in their proposals for youth programs. I never saw such objections when my own parish, St. Colette, asked to have a similar gymnasium built in a much more densely populated residential area,” Koehler said. “Any objection to a faith community’s mission is not only wrong, I consider it un-American.”
In separate action, the council approved the church’s request to annex the southern half of its property that includes its first church sanctuary and a residential parsonage.