Naperville to mediate hospital quarrel

Naperville officials will referee discussions between Edward Hospital officials and neighboring residents over a proposed 120-foot bed tower at the hospital.

The city council asked staff to step in and help mediate after negotiations broke down between both sides over the purchase of eight adjacent homes to provide a setback for the planned expansion.

Hospital officials recently submitted revised plans for the tower they say are scaled back, but neighbors complained the new plan offers little relief from the bulk hovering over their properties.

Instead of building 120 feet straight up 30 feet from the residential property line, the new proposal calls for a two-tiered tower. The first tier would rise 60 feet up 30 feet back from the property line, and the second tier would rise an additional 60 feet but be set back an additional 20 feet on top of the first tier.

"From a planning standpoint the proposed treatments, materials and design of the expansion, we believe the additional 20-foot setback will significantly address perceived bulk of the second tier," said Allison Laff, the city's planning team leader.

But neighbors argue the city's endorsement of such a plan goes against the proposed health services zoning district regulations that sparked this current spat. Initially, city staff recommended a building at 120 feet be set back 250 feet from a residential property line. The current proposal would have it just 50 feet back from the residents.

"By simply going back 20 feet, the building height can be doubled," said Patricia Meyer, a resident who lives near the hospital but not adjacent. "How is this a compromise?"

The council asked staff to set up stakeholder meetings with the residents and hospital officials to try to work out a solution that would allow the hospital to build the tower that would house 200 additional beds. City officials had tried to remain at arms length during the negotiations between hospital officials and neighbors, but councilmen decided to intercede now since it's been more than a year since they first proposed the new zoning regulations. Meeting dates have not been decided, but council asked for a report back by its Dec. 4 meeting.

"We're heading in the right direction, but I still have some concerns," said Councilman Doug Krause. "Let's sit down with the residents and talk about this to see if we can work this out."