Despite Protests, Darien Panel OKs Priests' Home

DARIEN, IL – A Darien committee on Monday recommended granting a permit for a house for priests, despite opposition from the subdivision.

Neighbors warned that the home could become an Airbnb-type home for transients.

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They also expressed concern that the home's tax-free status would shift the property tax burden to other residents.

In March, the Society of Mount Carmel in Darien paid nearly $1.2 million for the house.

It is at 8825 Robert Road, at the corner with Oldfield Road, part of the Tara Hill subdivision. Its property tax bill is about $24,000.

The religious group said the rectory on Robert Road would be for three or four priests, brothers or "other religious occupants."

The matter was presented to the City Council's Municipal Services Committee on Monday.

The Society of Mount Carmel in Darien bought the house at 8825 Robert Road for nearly $1.2 million. The group wants to use it as a home for priests, brothers and "other religious occupants." (David Giuliani/Patch)

Earlier this month, the city's Plan Commission deadlocked 3-3 on the proposal. Mount Carmel needed a special-use permit because the city code limits the number of unrelated people to two in a house.

Darien's attorney, John Murphey, said that under the law, such a request is "presumptively permitted" unless the city finds something unusual.

He said the shifting of the tax burden has no measurable impact on others. And in any case, he said, the property tax exemption is not an appropriate consideration under the law.

Neighbor Brian Nigohosian said the city wanted to approve the request because of the good that the Carmelites have done for the community. But he said that overlooks the benefits that neighbors have brought to Darien.

He said it wasn't the residents' burden to show that the proposed use was inconsistent with the neighborhood.

Nigohosian also rejected the attorney's tax argument.

"To say this won't have an impact is a serious understatement," he said.

Additionally, he questioned how the category "religious occupants" applied.

"I worship. Can I live there?" Nigohosian said.

Darien resident Brian Nigohosian was among neighbors who objected to a proposed house for priests near them. Watching on are aldermen Ted Schauer (middle) and Ralph Stompanato. (David Giuliani/Patch)

Another neighbor, Rich Hauser, said no one in the subdivision benefits from granting the permit. And he said he was concerned it could be a home for transients.

Also speaking was the next-door neighbor, Razan Alawaj, who said his family moved there to live in a subdivision with other families.

He said he feared a religious home would reduce his home's price. That, he said, would compel him to sell to another religious organization.

"Then you will have a much bigger problem," he said.

At the meeting, Mount Carmel officials said the house would strictly be used as a residence, not for meetings, events or other purposes, such as treatment.

Ryan Anderson, the organization's facilities director, apologized for the recent traffic at the house.

"The house was in horrible shape. We've had to do numerous repairs," he said. "We have been trying to make improvements."

The committee's three aldermen – Thomas Belczak, Ralph Stompanato and Ted Schauer – supported the organization's request.

"At the end of the day, it is going to be a residence," Stompanato said. "They're not going to have staff, meetings or people coming and going."

Schauer, the city's longest-serving alderman, said he remembered a similar request in 2008 facing similar objections. Looking back, he said the residents' fears "did not come to fruition."

The aldermen set a limit of six people living in the house, matching the number of bedrooms.

Mount Carmel agreed to let the special use expire if it transferred the home to a new owner.

The request is expected to go before the full City Council next Monday.