The Islamic Center of Naperville cleared the first hurdle Thursday in its attempt to build a mosque facility on 248th Avenue on the city’s south side.
After 15 meetings held over nine months, the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission this week voted 6-1 to recommend the Naperville City Council allow the Islamic Center, known as ICN, to develop a worship hall, school, multipurpose hall and gymnasium in phases over several years.
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Included in the commission’s recommendation were a dozen conditions aimed a appeasing some of the concerns about traffic, parking, occupancy, fire safety and noise raised by residents of neighboring subdivisions over the course of the public hearing.
The one thing the commission did reject unanimously was ICN’s request for variance that would have allowed them to break from city code and not have to build a fence along north property line.
ICN officials said fence was unnecessary because the property line abuts open space along the Tall Grass Greenway, and the nearest home to the north is 200 feet from their property.
Both recommendations now head to the City Council for a final vote. Those for and against the mosque development will have another opportunity to voice their opinions.
During the Planning and Zoning Commission hearings, more than 500 people spoke and thousands more signed online petitions of support and opposition.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, commission Chairman Bruce Hanson said the 12 conditions compiled by staff hit all the concerns he had with the project.
“Somehow staff managed to get them out of my head without us even talking about it and condense them into 12 points,” Hanson said. “I do feel that they’ve been addressed largely through these conditions.
“There’s still another bite at the apple, of course, once this gets to City Council. They’re the ones who make the final determination,” he said.
Naperville community planner Sara Kopinski said the measures are aimed at addressing issues raised during the hearings. If implemented, ICN would have to:
? Install an interim left-turn lane for southbound traffic on 248th Avenue for anyone entering through the property’s south entrance prior to issuance of a final occupancy permit for the first phase.
? Provide police officers to direct traffic on 248th Avenue into the campus’ two entrances and to assist pedestrians using the 248th Avenue pedestrian crossing for large events, classes at the school and mosque services if the volume of cars exceeds the capacity of the turn lanes.
? Limit the number of worshippers to 457 through the first four phases to ensure the sufficient on-site parking, unless otherwise approved by the city.
? Submit plans and studies for future phases in regards to parking, traffic, building elevations, stormwater management, photometrics and landscaping.
? Seek approval of a conditional use before the final stage to expand the worship space, which is when additional parking will be required.
? Limit construction to the first two development phases until expansion of 248th Avenue is completed.
? Construct 422 parking spaces in the first phase.
? Have the Naperville Fire Department review the proposed site and building design for each development phase to ensure compliance with fire and building codes and access for emergency vehicles.
? Submit a school pickup plan with final engineering for school phase of the development.
? Obtain administrative approval for building materials.
? Reimburse the city for half the cost of a traffic signal and associated improvements at the intersection of Honey Locust Drive and 248th Avenue.
? Agree that no external speaker systems or amplifiers shall be used at the ICN property.
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