Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - January 15, 2025
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Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - January 15, 2025
The Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) met on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included two public hearings (one canceled), approval of minutes, and approval of the 2024 annual report. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 PM.
Cancelled Public Hearing
- Primrose School (471 E 75th St) – PZC 24-1-099: Due to a public notice error, the public hearing for a new day care center building was canceled. Chair Van Someren stated the case will be rescheduled for a future meeting with proper notice.
Public Forum
- No members of the public signed up to speak.
Discussion Items
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Sunroom Variance – 2298 Weatherford Lane (PZC 24-1-129): Brad Iwicki (City Planning Staff) presented the request for a variance from Section 6-6B-7:1 to allow a 210-square-foot sunroom addition to encroach one foot into the required six-foot interior side yard. The petitioner, Desiree Sana, a 30-year resident, supported the request. Staff supported the variance. No public testimony was offered. The PZC voted unanimously (8-0) to approve the variance, adopting the findings of fact as presented.
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General Service Use Variance – 47 E Chicago Avenue (PZC 24-1-132): Adam Beaver (City Planning Staff) presented a variance request from Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC to permit a general service use (financial institution) on the first floor of the former Barnes & Noble building in the B4 downtown core district, where such uses are restricted to the second floor or above. The first-floor space is approximately 2,437 square feet, a narrow “sliver” off Washington Street, and would serve as a retail lobby connected to a larger second-floor office space (approx. 9,000 sq ft). The petitioner (Caitlyn Culbertson, attorney; Sean Adair, branch leader) stated 45 employees would staff the location, and they anticipate 70–90 walk-in customers daily (12,500 visits/year). The existing Freedom Commons branch would close. Public testimony: Mary Lou Wehrli spoke in opposition, citing the need to preserve downtown retail vibrancy, loss of sales tax revenue, parking concerns, and potential precedent. Commissioner Wright expressed support, noting the space is difficult to lease and that filling the office space would benefit nearby businesses. Commissioner Castagnoli supported based on retail leasing experience. Chair Van Someren clarified that traditional retail banking (commercial service) is permitted on the first floor, but Fidelity is classified as a general service. Commissioner McDaniel opposed, hoping for a non-banking use and citing reduced foot traffic from construction. Commissioner Bansal opposed due to parking concerns. Commissioner Robbins supported after understanding the limited space. The PZC voted 7-1 to approve the variance (Commissioner Bansal opposed, Commissioner King absent).
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Variance for sunroom encroachment at 2298 Weatherford Lane (8-0).
- Approved: Variance to permit general service use on the first floor at 47 E Chicago Avenue (7-1, with Commissioner Bansal voting no).
- Approved: Minutes of the December 4, 2024 PZC meeting (unanimous).
- Approved: 2024 PZC Annual Report, with an edit to clarify that Commissioner Bansal joined the Commission in December 2023.
Meeting Transcript
I would like to call the planning and zoning commission meeting for January 15th, 2025 to order. Okay, thank you. Let's get started. Secretary Wright, will you please conduct the roll call? Bonzel. Casting Lilly. Here. King. Absolutely. McDaniel? Here. Rachelio? President. Robins? Here. Wright is here. Cleeman. Here. And Chairwoman Van Summeren. I'm here. Madam Chair, we have a quorum. Great. Thank you very much. The first order of business tonight is the public forum. During the public forum, members of the public have the opportunity to address the planning and zoning commission on issues which are not part of tonight's agenda. Please keep your comments comments limited to three minutes. Also, for the sake of those in attendance, please refrain from clapping or shouting out in response to comments made by any speaker. Secretary Wright, do we have anyone signed up under the public forum? We do not. Okay. All right, we'll keep moving on then. Our next order of business is public hearings. For each hearing, we will begin with a staff presentation or introduction, followed by the petitioner's presentation. We will then take public testimony to ensure that we have an opportunity to hear from each person wishing to speak. Please keep your comments specific to the request under consideration and try to avoid repetitive comments. Also, for the sake of all those in attendance, please refrain from clapping or shouting out in response to comments made by any speaker. Following all public testimony, the petitioner will provide closing remarks just prior to the closure of the public hearing. No further public testimony will be taken after the petitioner begins their closing remarks or during the planning and zoning commission's deliberation. I will now swear in any member of the public wishing to speak. That would include petitioners. Okay. Those who wish to provide testimony, please stand up. Please raise your right hand and respond. I do. I swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Thank you. I think we got everybody this time. Okay. Uh all right. Next thing we go on here.
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