PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the public hearing to consider a variance to exceed the required 6 foot maximum setback requirement in the B4 (Downtown Core) District pursuant to Section 6-7D-6 (B4 District: Yard Requirements) of the Naperville Municipal Code at the subject property located at 41 W. Jefferson Avenue (R.R. Breitwieser Corner) - PZC 18-1-004
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Erin Venard
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Official notice for the public hearing for PZC 18-1-004 was published in the Naperville Sun on April 1, 2018.
BACKGROUND:
The subject property is located at the northeast corner of Main Street and Jefferson Avenue with a common address of 41 W. Jefferson Avenue. The 3,950 square foot subject property was previously the site of Russell’s Dry Cleaners prior to the demolition of the building in the Fall of 2017. The petitioner, Jefferson & Main LLC, intends to construct an approximately 3,290 square foot building with retail tenants on the subject property. The Naperville Downtown2030 <https://www.naperville.il.us/contentassets/7fed1bf2ba19496fa9a037f019616748/cmp-naperville-downtown2030.pdf> plan identifies the future land use of the property as “Downtown Core.” The proposed building is consistent with the purpose of the Downtown Core to “serve as the retail and activity center of the downtown, allowing for the most intense development form and uses.”
The petitioner requests approval of a variance to exceed the maximum setback of 6’ in the B4 (Downtown Core) District to permit a rear yard of 17.08’.
DISCUSSION:
Per Section 6-7D-7 (B4 District: Yard Requirements) <https://library.municode.com/il/naperville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6ZORE_CH7BUDI_ARTDB4DOCODI> of the Municipal Code, the maximum setback from any property line in the B4 District is 6’. The petitioner is proposing to exceed the maximum setback requirement by 11.08’ for a rear yard setback of 17.08’ at its greatest extent (note: the 17.08’ setback is for the eastern rear portion of the building adjacent to Ted’s Montana Grill; the rear setback of the building for the western portion of the building nearest Main Street is 13.41’). The proposed setback variance is requested in order to accommodate a 10’ pedestrian easement (see discussion below), the outward swing on the doors of the mechanical rooms, and a future grease trap. The proposed building will be built to the property lines on the remaining property lines along Jefferson Avenue and Main Street, and the east property line abutting Ted’s Montana Grill.
The purpose of the maximum setback requirement is to create a consistent ground floor streetwall. Per the Naperville Downtown2030 plan, a streetwall is established by continuous building fronts at or near the front property line without gaps in between. The requested variance increases the required building setback in the rear of the subject property; however, it does not affect the existing or proposed streetwall along Jefferson Avenue or Main Street. Therefore, staff is in support of the proposed variance request.
Pedestrian Easement
One of the focuses of the Naperville Downtown2030 <https://www.naperville.il.us/contentassets/7fed1bf2ba19496fa9a037f019616748/cmp-naperville-downtown2030.pdf> plan is establishing and maintaining a successful pedestrian environment. The Plan identifies several areas throughout downtown that lack fluid pedestrian connections. To help combat these pedestrian gaps, the plan recommends a pedestrian only path located to the north (in the rear) of the subject property. The City has requested the petitioner dedicate a 10’ easement on the north of the subject property to accommodate a future pedestrian path; this easement falls within the rear yard setback area and will align with an easement previously provided by Ted’s Montana Grill. The path will not be constructed now but rather in the future once all the necessary easements have been secured.
The petitioner’s responses to the standards for granting a variance are attached. Upon review, staff is in agreement with the petitioner’s findings and recommends their adoption by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Key Takeaways
§ The petitioner is requesting a variance to exceed the maximum B4 district setback of 6’ to permit a rear yard setback of 17.08’ on the subject property.
§ Staff supports the request because it does not affect the downtown streetwall and it accommodates a 10’ easement for a pedestrian path that is supported by the Naperville Downtown2030 Plan.