North Central's 10-year plan sitting well with Naperville council
North Central College's 10-year master land use plan is garnering early praise from the Naperville City Council.
The plan lays out potential projects for the college including the top priority - a new science center. Other proposed improvements include additional classroom, office and living space and possibly a new pool.
Councilman Jim Boyajian applauded what he called "truly outstanding additions to the city" over the past few years and the level of detail in the new plan.
Mayor George Pradel said he is happy to see a new science center as a priority. Students currently take classes in the Kroehler Science Center that was built in 1969.
"Science is being taught much differently than it ever was before and wrestling with that will be a major issue for us in the next few years," said Paul Loscheider, vice president for business affairs.
School officials have several possible locations in mind - just west of Kiekhofer Hall on the site of the Larrance Academic Center; east of Loomis Street on the site of Kimmel and Seybert residence halls; adjacent the existing Kroehler Science Center or even replacing it; or on a dry pond on the south side of the campus.
Over the next decade the college also may need additional classroom space that is more conducive to group work and would like to consolidate and better organize its offices into buildings that are more suitable than their current locations in college-owned houses.
The 10-year plan also identifies potential locations for additional student housing, including the fourth floor of the new Res/Rec Center or the southwest corner of Chicago Avenue and Brainard Street. The site of the current Student Village or just north of it on Loomis Street also are possibilities.
In addition, the college would like to rehabilitate a number of existing buildings on campus and also build a pool that meets the necessary standards to host an intercollegiate swim meet.
School officials say they will keep green space on campus and continue to discourage cars on campus through parking regulations and by providing remote parking lots.
If the college expands outside its current boundaries over the next decade, officials say it would do so toward downtown unless an opportunity arises that would benefit both the college and the neighborhood.
"Where there's an opportunity that presents itself we're going to evaluate it and see where the college can fit well and that's where it will be," Loscheider said.
The land use plan is meant as a guideline for future development but many of the projects will be dependent on the college's ability to secure funding from donors.
Over the past year, school officials have held numerous meetings with nearby residents, sent out e-mail updates and posted the plan on their website. No residents commented on the plan at Tuesday's council meeting.
"I think North Central College, compared to what it's been, is light-years better," Councilman Grant Wehrli said. "Your outreach ... I commend you guys for that. It certainly save a lot of headaches here and in the community."
The city's plan commission and staff already have recommended approval of the plan. Councilmen will take a formal vote in July.