A plan under which 65 “micro-unit” apartments would be built on a vacant parking lot near Naperville’s Route 59 Metra station cleared one approval hurdle Wednesday night.
Weston Ridge Apartments won the unanimous endorsement of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, with members praising the development for finding an appropriate site to offer a lower-cost rental option.
Weston Ridge would be located on 1.5 acres at 540 Weston Ridge Drive, north of a commuter parking lot for the train station and east of an industrial area that includes a state vehicle emissions testing facility.
The one-bedroom units would have between 506 and 640 square feet of living space, according to petition documents submitted to the city. Eleven of them on the first of four floors would have “unique ground-floor entry” through private outdoor entrances “to enhance accessibility and usability for residents,” project attorney Caitlin Csuk said.
The project needs Naperville City Council approval because of code variances requested for density, height and signage.
City ordinances call for 25 units and a maximum building height of 43 feet on a lot of that size. The developer wants 65 units and a building height of 47 feet as well as a wall sign. The project also requires a major change to a planned unit development approved for the Railway Plaza area in 1998.
Sara Kopinski, of the city’s planning services team, said staff supports the developer’s requests.
“The major change will convert the underperforming property to a residential development that supports housing diversity and affordability, walkability and resident proximity to transit — all of which are goals that are identified in the city’s land-use master plan,” Kopinski said.
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Planning and zoning commissioners asked a few questions about parking — there are 73 spots planned for the site — and traffic, which should generate a projected 19 new trips during peak hours, Csuk said.
The lawyer assured them the parking, with one spot per unit and eight spaces for guests, is adequate based on other recent apartment developments in Naperville. She said the development would generate less traffic than were it to be fully used for commuter parking, which it had been before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weston Ridge Apartments draws its design inspiration from the industrial properties nearby, Csuk said, and is aiming for an urban feel with its exterior look of red brick and gray paneling.
The petitioner, called 540 Weston Ridge, anticipates the apartments will appeal to a mix of ages and life stages, including young workers, commuters, empty-nesters and seniors, she said. Near not only the Metra station, but two Pace bus stops on Route 59 and North Aurora Road, apartment housing at the site is “very strategically located to thrive,” Csuk said.
There were no letters of opposition or comments from the public for or against the project at Wednesday’s meeting. Commission members voiced their support.
“I absolutely love this project. I love where it is. I love the way that the project looks. I’m excited about the attainable aspect,” Commissioner Mark Wright said. “I just want to make sure that the developer understands how important that is, and I hope that attainable price point carries through the whole project and doesn’t get twisted into something else.”
Marie Wilson is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.