Public Hearing for COD - DuPage County Zoning Board

The College of DuPage has requested an amendment to the Planned Development.

A hearing is scheduled on February 20, 2014 at 6:00pm, Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton Illinois 60187.

There is no information about the February 20 meeting currently on the county Zoning Board of Appeals website.  However, I have included the purpose of the hearing and COD's request in this post. [Update. There is now a link at the county zoning website for Z14-005 College of DuPage Zoning Process. The link states "The public hearing for zoning petition Z14-005 College of DuPage will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria of the County Administration Building, 421 North County Farm Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187."]

Scope of COD's Planned Development
Here is some background information. The scope of the current college development plans is on Version 2D of the College of DuPage "Planned Development Site Plan revised January 31, 2014." Click on the image to enlarge:

Planned Site Development Version 2D - January 2014

That plan includes a number of "Proposed New Buildings and Structures."  I don't recall a hearing with approvals for the "connecting road" from Fawell to College Parking 7 during the DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) hearing in 2012. Nor was it included in the ZBA June 19, 2012 "Proposed Motion for Z12-022 College of DuPage." However, the entrance work and a section of the road was completed by the college in 2013.  The college indicates planned signage for that new entrance. See Note 1 on this post for the recommendation of the ZBA on June 19, 2012.

Here is the way the northwest corner of the campus appeared in 2012. That's Fawell-22nd Street running from left to right, and parking for the apartments immediately to the west of the campus. The new road runs through the former grassy field in the approximate center of the photo. On reading the petition it seems the college is not requesting permission for signage at this new road at this time. But the plan indicates that signage is coming. The other requests in the petition are included later in this post:

Here's a COD graphic with the approximate location of the proposed Waterleaf Restaurant sign.

Here is the current list of "Proposed New Structures" from the most recent site plan of the college (Version 2D, January 31, 2014):

1. A 2 story building totalling 42,000 S.F. [a new Homeland Training Center?]
2. New campus gateway signage. (Not an electronic changing message). [This will be at the extreme northwest corner of the campus on Fawell and at the new road constructed into the campus in 2013.]
3. Connecting Road. [A portion was actually constructed in 2013. It goes from Fawell and into the campus and runs parallel to the property line and southward. The plan is to extend this to College Parking 7, which is east of COD's Pond 9. ]
4. A 1 story vestibule addition to SRC [Student Resource Center].
5. A 2 story concessions building.
6. Waterleaf ground mounted restaurant sign. [This will be illuminated].

The Text of the Current College Zoning Request

This is an excerpt from the request.

"The DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals will conduct the following public hearing on February 20, 2014 at 6:00pm."

"PETITIONER: Community College District No. 502, College of DuPage. Board of Trustees: Erin Birt, Board Chairman; Kathy Hamilton, Vice Chairman; Allison O'Donnell, Board Secretary; Joseph C. Wozniak, Co-Vice Chairman; Dianne McGuire; Kim Savage; Nancy Svoboda; Stephanie Torres. 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.

REQUEST: The College of DuPage is requesting an amendment to the Planned Development as a conditional use in the R-l zoning district for the following: Construction of the Homeland Training Center on the west side of campus to house educational uses associated with the College. This building is needed to replace the antiquated temporary classroom facilities. Installation of one illuminated ground-mounted Waterleaf restaurant sign on the College property, east of the Culinary and Hospitality Center building site to ensure that users and patrons of the campus can effectively and expeditiously, and most importantly safely, understand where buildings and uses are located on the campus to ensure timely arrival to cultural events. (Sec. 37-701.2 and Zoning Petition Z12-022 College of DuPage).

ADDRESS OR GENERAL LOCATION: College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Southwest of intersection of Park Blvd. and Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, IL"

The County Website
You can go to the following link to see what is currently listed by the county. [Updated]  It includes the current 2014 petition "Z14-005 College of DuPage Zoning" as well as the 2012 "Z12-022 College of DuPage Zoning."

Clicking will open a  New Window> DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals

Note:
1. Here is the official approved committee agenda notes:

Clicking will obtain the pdf of   Development Committee Agenda June 19, 2012

Here is the excerpted text pertaining to the College of DuPage, taken from:

"http://www.dupageco.org/County_Board_Committees/Development_Committee/2012/Packets/36982/"

Page 1 AGENDA DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:00 a.m., County Board Room 1.

"7.3  Z12-022 – ORDINANCE - College of DuPage: The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended the following zoning relief:

1. A Conditional Use for a Planned Development (PDD) in the R-1 Zoning District;
2. A Conditional Use within the PDD for schools, public and private colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning;
3. A Conditional Use within the PDD for an existing noncommercial radio and television tower and antennas, which exceed the maximum height permitted in the R-1 district not to exceed 248 feet; and

To deny the following:

4. A Conditional Use within the PDD for a new Electronic Message Sign

In addition, that the zoning relief be subject to the following conditions:
A. That the zoning relief be subject to petitioner’s survey, not the proposed site plan which will permit only those buildings and structures that are currently located on the property; and

B. That the zoning relief does not permit any new buildings or structures, (including denial of the proposed 3 future buildings on the west side of the campus, the proposed well, watertower and treatment facility, the maintenance building, the concession stand and any new addition to an existing building; and

C. That the College be required to obtain permits from the County for any existing building orstructure on the property that does not have approval from Glen Ellyn. (Milton Township/District

4) ZBA VOTE (Partial Approval): 7 Ayes, 0 Nays"

College of DuPage Special Zoning Meeting

Our "scenic" view as provided by the College of Dupage. The College told us they were installing a tree lined and landscaped "retention pond" and the work would be completed in 2011. This is what we now see each and every day (Hint - click on the images to enlarge them):

Tomorrow, Thursday May 10th at 6:00pm, a board of appeals hearing will be held at the County Board Complex - first floor auditorium at 421 North County Farm Rd, in Wheaton, IL. Note: Any attendee should verify the location prior to attending.[Note 1]

Anyone who has any concerns about the college and it's expansion plans should attend this meeting, which is open to the public.

I've included a link to State Representative Sandra Pihos' website concerning this meeting. She recommends that "concerned citizens need to address issues relevant to one or more of these criteria....it is imperative that you go to the decision-makers to express them."


Please attend the meeting and be counted as a registered attendee. There is no need to make a statement. You may also email your comments to:

Paul.Hoss@dupageco.org

Or, you may also fax your comments to 630-407-6702.


"Your Voice Counts!"


The College of DuPage (COD) is requesting the Zoning Board of Appeals to approve the following conditional uses:

1. A planned unit development (PUD) in an R-1 zone.
2. Radio and TV towers and antennae in an R-1 zone.
3. A college or university within R-1 zone; and
4. Electronic message signs.

However, there is a possibility that code variances made by the college and never approved by the Village of Glen Ellyn will also be "grandfathered in" by the County.

Major concerns to BLMH residents in the vicinity of the college include:

1. A pumping station in the southwest corner of the college grounds and off of Gloucester. 
2. The addition of a 120 foot tall water tower (10 to 12 stories tall) adjacent to BLMH.
3. The addition of three large buildings on the west side of the college, one about 3-4 stories tall, which will be immediately to the east of the BLMH property and has no identified use. 
4. Several acres of additional parking. 
5. Serious reduction in the green space on the west side of the college campus, which will increase storm runoff to the south lake of BLMH, with possible flooding of the marsh and church in the vicinity of Brentwood Lane. 
6. Extensive excavations on the south and southwest side of the college which was not identified on plans given to BLMH by the college, was not on the college website and was to have been completed in the fall of 2011 according to the college documents and statements made to the community. However, this remains a blighted area and is unfinished.  

According to Rep. Pihos' website, these are the Standards for Conditional Uses 37-1413.5:

"The Zoning Board of Appeals shall make findings as to each conditional use petitioner. The findings shall be based upon the evidence presented to it in each specific case demonstrating consideration with respect to the following: That the granting of any conditional use is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter, and will not be injurious to the neighborhood, detrimental to the public welfare, or in conflict with the County's Comprehensive Plan for development; and specifically that the granting of the conditional use will not:

1. Impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property; 
2. Increase the hazard from fire or other dangers to said property; 
3. Diminish the value of land and buildings in the vicinity of the proposed conditional use;
4. Unduly increase traffic congestion in the public streets and highways;
5. Increase the potential for flood damages to adjacent property; 
6. Incur additional public expense for fire protection, rescue or relief; or
7. Otherwise impair the public health, safety, comfort, morals or general welfare of the inhabitants of DuPage County, nor will it otherwise create a nuisance."

Clicking will open a New Window> State Rep. Sandra Pihos on COD Zoning



Notes:

1. I can't assume responsibility for anyone attending and going to the wrong location. Interested parties should verify the location of the meeting. 
2. I've corrected several typos in the original post.