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1 • Thursday, December 28, 2017 - The Elmhurst Independent
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VOL. 23 • NO. 1
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Independent Elmhurst
TAKE ONE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017
For second time, ZPC votes down nursing facility proposed on Fremont Vote comes down to 4-4; Mushow abstains
By Dee Longfellow
FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
It was a meeting of the Elmhurst Zoning & Planning Commission that offered a public forum, even though none of the testimony was able to be further considered for the topic at hand. Still, six people took to the podium to express their concern once again about the Elmhurst Extended Care nursing home facility planned on Fremont Ave. A few people were kind enough to wish the Commissioners happy holidays. “I’d like to thank the Commission for your hard work,” said Terese McCarthy. “I realize you are residents like us. Happy Holidays to you all.” Eileen Franz, Asst Zoning Administrator for the City of Elmhurst, explained the conditional use proposal and the steps the Commission had to discuss to come to a recommendation, which will then go before the Planning & Zoning Committee, before appearing on the agenda for the full City Council’s vote. A nursing home cannot be placed in an R-1 district without a conditional use, Franz said. Currently the Elmhurst Extended Care facility (EEC) is on a lot, which could have been subdivided into two lots, but could actually even fit three homes. Someone posed the question, if there were three homes planned on this lot, what would the bulk be for those home, vs. the bulk of the nursing home? The proposal was voted down once before by the ZPC, so this meeting represented the Commission’s second look at the facts to determine a recommendation.
To establish a conditional use, the applicant must show that nothing about it will be detrimental to the comfort and general welfare to the neighborhood. “It is a big disadvantage to the neighbors that they understand the size of the property at the time of purchase,” said Commissioner Dan Corrado. “To have that change so drastically is of detriment to the neighbors, and it’s really not the way our town is. Most of our applicants find a happy medium in some way, but I don’t feel that has happened here. They have been in an egregious confrontation. I’m saddened that we have come closer to having the applicant give in
on this. “Has this particular condition been met? Yes, no question, I just think we’re all going to come to the conclusion that it is going to meet [the conditional use] but is that what we want to do?” Commissioner Lisa Callaway lives in the neighborhood, so she is familiar with the project first-hand. “We live in the neighborhood so I’m very familiar with what’s happening there, but any of our lots could change at any time, even though there’s a residence next to us. I was sure the house next to me would be a teardown. In terms of this, I believe it’s been met, but what did we buy
into when we bought our house?” “Is this use compatible with the neighborhood?” Commissioner Susan McCoyd asked. “It was zoned for single family residents. The zones are [put in place] to protect commercial buildings from encroachment from incompatible services. That’s right in the zoning book. “We have the ordinance that says a nursing home COULD be in a residential neighborhood, but needs a conditional use. The question is, does it meet the requirements for conditional use?” “It’s a good question,” said Commissioner Dave Garland. “It’s a significant setback, but a single family
ICGS first graders celebrate Jesus’ birthday
home could be put in there just as high, [which could] block the neighbors’ view just like this.” “I think it’s always challenging to take each one [conditional use] separately and then look at the whole thing as a whole,” said Commissioner Jordan Uditsky. “I don’t see that it helps the general welfare. They do have to satisfy a substantial portion of each of these conditions and we want to go by what we can, but we all have certain opinions. It’s challenging but the bottom line is, I have a really hard time that, all things being equal, you could end up with a brick wall next to you,
See ZPC, Page 24
SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, first graders from Immaculate Conception Grade School walked over to Wilder Park with their handmade bell ornaments to decorate their, “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” Christmas tree.
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