City of Wheaton City Council met Aug. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. Call to Order and Roll Call The public hearing of the Wheaton City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. The public hearing was held in the Council Chambers, Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley Street, Wheaton, Illinois. Upon roll call, the following were:
Present: Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilman Brown
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Fitch
Councilman Weller
Absent: Councilwoman Robbins
City Staff Present:
Michael Dzugan, City Manager
John Duguay, Assistant City Manager
James Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development
Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer
Comprehensive Plan/Market Study/Zoning Ordinance Update - Roosevelt Road Corridor Study – Public Hearing
Presentation Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik reviewed the City's process to develop the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan, which started in 2019. The City hired Camiros Ltd. and Valerie Kretchmer to prepare a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the portion of Roosevelt from the Prairie Path to the Wheaton-Glen Ellyn border. The City then directed Camiros to develop a revised plan incorporating the feedback of the community, City Council and staff. Following a pause to the project due to the inability to hold the desired community input gather sessions during the Covid-19 shutdowns, the project was restarted and the City had Valerie Kretchmer prepare a new market study based on updated conditions.
The City posted the revised plan draft online, prepared a summary video guiding residents through the updated plan, and solicited feedback from the community through an online survey and through two community input sessions that were held in person and through Zoom. The final draft that Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik presented at this public hearing incorporated this feedback.
Jean Lindwall of Camiros Ltd. reviewed some of the final changes incorporated into the final draft. These include addressing historic structures and their preservation, presenting two implementation strategies, and clarification that this plan represents development of policy, whereas the next steps address implementation of suggested changes. Ms. Lindwall reviewed changes to the plan's goals to include public improvements, such as the addition of sidewalks and aiming to make the corridor more pedestrian-friendly. Further refinements included an emphasis on respecting the residential areas along the corridor. Ms. Lindwall also reviewed the recommendations for each of the four sectors. She stated there weren't significant changes from the recommendations previously presented for the four sectors.
In response to a question from Mayor Suess, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated there currently are not any gas stations in Sector 2.
Public Comment David Myrick, 411 E. Liberty Drive, asked what was going to happen with the property at the southwest corner of Naperville Road and Roosevelt Road. Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated the City Council approved a proposal for a medical urgent care and daycare to be built on this site. In response to Mr. Myrick's question about what is happening with the former Cozymel's restaurant site on Butterfield Road, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated the City will hold a second public hearing Aug. 9 for a proposed car wash business to replace the former restaurant on the site.
Bonnie Gahris, 1826 E. Willow, thanked the Council for encouraging landscaping along Roosevelt Road in this plan. She stated she would like to see trees and native plants included. Ms. Gahris also stated she believes there is a lack of low-income housing in the area and would like to see more included through this plan.
Sasha Brady, 1201 Manchester, stated she also supports encouraging more affordable housing opportunities. She spoke in favor of the limitations on height so there aren't too many tall apartment complexes built in the area. She stated she would like to see more mixed-income housing available, and she works at World Relief.
Council Comment Councilman Barbier stated he will vote in favor of adopting this plan; however, he wants the Council to reexamine the expected outcomes. Councilman Barbier reviewed what he believes are Wheaton's strengths, including its desirability as a residential community, outstanding schools, and professional fire services. He highlighted the greater resources neighboring Glen Ellyn has devoted to economic development, as well as deeper lots and landscaping along Roosevelt Road, which he believes puts Wheaton at a disadvantage. Councilman Barbier stated Wheaton has many more commercial areas than just Roosevelt Road, and he expressed concerns with the City focusing on just one commercial area among many.
Councilwoman Bray-Parker spoke in favor of this plan being adopted as part of the City's Comprehensive Plan. She spoke in favor of the plan's recognition of green space and sustainable aspects, and she requested the City dedicate a separate future discussion on attainable housing to ensure clarity of definition and further discuss this issue.
Councilman Weller expressed general support for the plan and appreciated the collaborative nature of the final plan. He stated implementing this plan through a new zoning district would be best, like the Northside Overlay District.
In response to Councilman Weller's question on variances, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated applicants could still ask for variances through their applications; however, the City would aim for applications to be consistent with the plan.
To answer Councilman Weller's question on how long it would take for the City to be able to evaluate success from this plan, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated it would depend on which implementation strategy is chosen, and implementation could take 6 months to 1 year.
In response to Councilwoman Fitch's question regarding the interim period before the plan is amended to City Code and implemented, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated the City has had some recent examples in which developers are interested in a particular property in which the changes have not yet been implemented, yet the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan would support the variance, and the City can take this into account when granting a variance.
Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik responded to a question by Councilwoman Fitch by stating he thinks it is clear that the uses listed in the Appendix are example uses, but not all uses are listed.
In response to Councilwoman Fitch's question about whether the market study should be included, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated it is helpful to include the market study because it helps show why the City made these decisions at this time.
To answer Mayor Suess's question about attainable housing levels in Wheaton, Director of Planning & Economic Development Kozik stated Wheaton is not below the threshold by which the City would be obligated by the state to have a plan to add attainable housing. He stated he can provide this information to the Council.
The Council and staff expressed a desire to implement this plan in a timely manner.
Mayor Suess expressed support for the plan and stated the market is different than 20 years ago, with a migration away from office/research uses and toward housing. He stated he'd like to see improvements to the appearance of Roosevelt Road and fill in sidewalk gaps, and the City can focus on key intersections on Roosevelt Road.
Councilman Brown moved and Councilman Barbier seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 7:50 p.m.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilman Brown
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Fitch
Councilman Weller
Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Nays: Absent:
None Councilwoman Robbins
Motion Carried Unanimously
III. Adjournment Councilman Barbier moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 7:50 p.m.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilman Brown
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Fitch
Councilman Weller
Nays: None
Absent: Councilwoman Robbins
Motion Carried Unanimously
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ASQ5DoyIjjUvnx91UK9zdftpjU_p2dXTiwobs3Jj26c/edit
Alerts Sign-up