On a recent decision that may redefine the commercial landscape, the Naperville City Council has chosen not to formally oppose a development project on unincorporated land along 75th Street near Wehrli Road, a stark contrast to their reaction to a similar proposal eight years earlier. According to the Chicago Tribune, this new multiuse development that intends to construct a daycare center, a coffee shop, and a self-storage facility has slipped through the cracks of city opposition despite conflicting with Naperville's Land Use Master Plan.
The multi-use development—encompassing a 1.79-acre parcel—has been proposed by Burr Ridge-based developer Xsite Real Estate. Plans include Little Sunshine's Daycare and a Scooter’s Coffee alongside a CubeSmart self-storage facility. While under the purview of DuPage County rather than Naperville itself, state law permits a municipality to offer their opinion on such projects within a 1.5-mile radius of their jurisdiction. Yet the council decided to not formally object, a move that would have required the DuPage County Board to pass the development with a supermajority vote. Council members stated they couldn't find substantial reasons to "formally oppose" it.
In 2016, Naperville council members successfully objected to a similar project on the grounds that it did not suit the city's preference for residential, office, or more conventional commercial developments. However, despite staff raising issues aligning with the city's Master Plan, the council's current stance remained neutral, potentially paving the way for Xsite's project to move forward as indicated in the statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune from Xsite President Brett Paul who highlighted the community engagement and the "substantial changes" made to their redevelopment plans based on resident feedback.
Meanwhile, in an uncontested move, the Joliet Plan Commission appears set to consider the expansion of the Cherry Hill Business Park proposed by Northern Builders. Shaw Local reports that the 97-acre site at Cherry Hill and Spencer roads—which borders industrial property, farmland, and a forest preserve—could soon be subdivided into lots for large-scale warehouses. This decision, heralded by the City Council's Land Use, and Economic Development Committee, has been described as fitting the current industrial nature of the surrounding area. Council member Pat Mudron chimed in, saying that "fortunately, this project does not abut any homeowners," further indicating alignment with the intended industry zoning.
The proposal plans for an 802,440-square-foot warehouse among others, with city approval hanging on the upcoming meetings. City Planning Director James Torri informed that the first discussions are scheduled for the Plan Commission on July 18, while the final decision by the full City Council is slated for August 6. This lack of opposition and clear designation of industrial zoning points to a smooth approval process for Northern Builders, in direct contrast to the tangle of differing opinions that characterizes the situation in Napileville.
