PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the public hearing to consider an amendment to Section 6-8C-3 of the Naperville Municipal Code regarding vocational and trade schools in the I (Industrial) zoning district (PZC 24-1-094)
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Adam Beaver, AICP, Community Planner
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Required notice of PZC 24-1-094 was published in the Naperville Sun on Sunday, August 4, 2024; Wednesday, August 7, 2024; and Sunday, August 11, 2024
BACKGROUND:
A request has been submitted by Phlebotomy Training Specialists for a text amendment to 6-8C-3 be processed to allow vocational and trade schools which do not qualify as a Public Assembly Use per Section 6-2-29 of the Naperville Municipal Code, as a conditional use in the I zoning district. The PZC concurred with this request and initiated the text amendment on June 5, 2024.
DISCUSSION:
The intent of the I zoning district is to accommodate industrial activities which are more intensive than light industrial uses. This district includes a variety of industrial, office, and several commercial uses as permitted uses. Currently, vocational and trade schools which qualify as a Public Assembly Use, are a conditional use in the district. To qualify as a Public Assembly use, per Section 6-2-29 of the Naperville Municipal Code, all uses must be operated on a not-for-profit basis.
The petitioner requests approval of a text amendment to designate vocational and trade schools which do not qualify as a Public Assembly Use as a conditional use in the I district. The petitioner believes that there is no operational difference between a vocational school which operates on a not-for-profit basis and a vocational school which operates on a for profit basis.
Staff believes that vocational and trade schools which do not qualify as a Public Assembly Use would not negatively affect the zoning district or the existing businesses within it. Staff believes that amending Section 6-8C-3 (I/Conditional Uses) of the Naperville Municipal Code to allow vocational and trade schools which do not qualify as a Public Assembly use per Section 6-2-29 of the Naperville Municipal Code will not negatively affect properties zoned I and will not change the intent of previous amendments or disrupt the development of the district. Conditional uses are reviewed on a case by case basis, and each business proposed will be reviewed for its appropriateness within its own surrounding context.
The draft amendment reflecting the above changes is attached. The proposed code language is underlined. Staff is supportive of the proposed changes.