Politics & Government

Wheaton Zoning Board to Consider Proposal for Senior Housing at Courthouse Square

The city's Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing for an amendment to an approved planned unit development (PUD) to allow the construction of a senior housing development at Courthouse Square in downtown Wheaton.

Instead of condo buildings, Wheaton's Planning and Zoning Board will consider a request to amend a previously-approved development, to allow the construction of a senior housing facility at the property in downtown Wheaton Tuesday night.

The city in 2004 approved the planned unit development (PUD) for Courthouse Land Development, LLC—located in one of the city's three tax increment financing (TIF) districts—for the construction of 50 townhomes and 206 condos in four buildings, according to a city staff memo. Currently, one of the buildings, containing 50 units, the old courthouse building—containing six units—and 11 townhomes have been constructed. 

But when the housing market took a quick turn for the worst, development stalled. To date, only three condos in the courthouse building and two townhomes have sold at the Courthouse Square, according to the memo.

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At an August City Council meeting, to the proposed changes to the development.

A city panel voted Apr. 4 to approve the wording for developer's proposed changes, according to Triblocal. The panel voted 4-1 to approve the wording of the amendment, with supporting votes from Wheaton City Councilman John Rutledge, Community Unit School District 200 Assistant Superintendent Bill Farley, Milton Township Supervisor Chris Heidorn and DuPage County zoning coordinator Paul Lauricella. Wheaton Park District Executive Director Mike Benard opposed.

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City Concil will ultimately decide whether to approve the amendment at a May 14 meeting, according to Triblocal.

According to the city memo, Courthouse Land Development is now proposing to construct a six-story, 167-unit senior housing development instead of the second and third condo buildings proposed in 2004. The senior housing development, which would be managed by Parkside Management Services, would contain 55 independent living units, 84 assisted living units and 28 memory care units. The building’s design would be consistent with the architecture of the existing building, and would contain two outdoor dining spaces on the ground floor.

The amendment, submitted by Courthouse Land Development, LLC, would allow construction of a senior housing development at 250 Naperville Road and 245 Willow Avenue.

According to the memo, the proposed amendment to the approved development plan for Courthouse Square is a “major change,” that does not conform with the approved PUD.

“The Zoning Ordinance requires PUD’s to meet certain objectives. A PUD should promote harmonious architectural styles, building forms, building massing and building relationships,, both within the development and between the development and its surroundings. The PUD should also promote diversity in the types of developments permitted, so as to provide a variety of living, working and other environments attractive to all ages and income levels.”

City staff recommends approval of the application, with the following conditions:

  1. Applicant provides testimony regarding how the development complies with the “Minimum Usable Open Space” requirements of the Zoning Ordinance
  2. Applicant addresses how kitchen venting/mechanicals will be screened
  3. Applicant provides sufficient testimony that adequate excess parking capacity exists to accommodate the shortage of spaces provided per code, and the utilization of the 92 lower level parking spaces
  4. Applicant submits a signage plan, indicating the style and content of the signage
  5. Applicant provides testimony addressing how and where the move-in/move-out process will occur
  6. Applicant provides testimony addressing how and where trash and recycling will be collected
  7. Applicant provides testimony addressing the projected use and importance of he drop-off/pickup lanes
  8. The subdivision plat of Courthouse Square recorded in 2005 is revised to indicate the lot consolidation for the proposed amendment

The zoning board meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 24 at City Hall, 303 Wesley Street, Wheaton.

Patch will provide updates to this story Wednesday, Apr. 25.

Correction: The City of Wheaton did not terminate an agreement with Airhart Construction. Airhart continues to market and sell townhomes, according to a company spokesman.


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