Naperville leaders denied a data center proposed for the northwest corner of Naperville and Warrenville roads, but a subdivision of 262 townhouses at the same site could be on its way toward approval.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday night endorsed the proposal, called Townes of Naper Commons, which would occupy a 42-acre vacant site that formerly held a large-scale Nokia office building.
Commissioners voted 6-3 in favor of the plan from builder Pulte Homes — on a condition that the developer continue to work with city staff on a few kinks, including those related to parkway trees, buffering between the new townhouses and their neighbors and a concern about invasive species listed on a landscaping plan.
No one from the public spoke in favor of or against the townhouse plan — in stark contrast to the previous data center proposal, which drew long lines of speakers during a series of multi-hour meetings before the Commission and the City Council, ending early this year.
After the data center denial, project attorney Caitlin Csuk said the property owner specifically sought out potential buyers whose ideas aligned with the city’s comprehensive land-use plan.
Since 2022, the plan has recommended medium-density residential for the site, which lies slightly north of I-88, near entrance and exit ramps at Naperville Road and Freedom Drive.
Pulte’s plan for the Townes of Naper Commons calls for three types of townhouses — a flat-roofed style with the option for a rooftop deck, which Csuk called “uniquely designed for
Naperville,” a rear-loaded variety, and a traditional version with garage entrances in the front.
Units are expected to sell for between $515,000 and $680,000, Csuk said.
The subdivision is envisioned as an extension of another new residential development immediately to the north, called Naper Commons, which features about 60 townhouses and 160 single-family homes, also built by Pulte on former Nokia land.
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“We believe this will be a compatible and cohesive use for this very important part of the (I-88) corridor,” Csuk said about the new proposal.
Several commissioners agreed and voiced support for the plan, which would require rezoning from an ORI designation for office, research and institutional uses to R2 for residential, as well as variances related to front yard setbacks, parkway trees and how building heights are measured. The City Council is set to consider these requests at a future meeting, also taking into account the Planning and Zoning Commission’s positive recommendation.
“I think this may be a huge complement to the I-88 corridor as the residential to support the businesses,” commissioner Mark Wright said about the plan. “To me, this actually becomes an
enhancement to the I-88 corridor.”
Commissioners who voted against the plan, however, said they worry that changing the zoning to residential may not be the best move economically.
“I’m concerned, are we giving away valuable land that could have a much better use down the road?” commissioner Tom Castagnoli said.
Commissioner Derek McDaniel, who also voted in opposition, along with Commissioner Judith Heather Mcgowan, said it’s best to maintain the ORI designation in order to balance commercial and residential development.
“It’s easy to vote ‘yes’ for residential development, but the easiest ‘yes’ vote isn’t always the best when it comes to long-term economic development for Naperville,” McDaniel said.