COD Seeks County OK for Long-Term Plan for New Buildings

 is seeking to add roughly 734,000 square feet of new buildings to its 273-acre campus, according to DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals documents. The development is a long-term plan and some of the infrastructure may never be built, according to officials working on the project.

Neighbors surrounding the college were made aware of the proposed planned development and the community is invited to a 6 p.m. May 10 hearing at the county complex at 421 N. County Farm Rd. in Wheaton. Residents can voice their concerns and opinions on the proposed projects, designed by Legat Architects, that include six three-story buildings, one water tower, one-story welcome building and a one-story water treatment center. 

Raintree Homeowners Association member Carol Fontana lives near the college and is encouraging residents to attend the May 10 hearing.

"We're just trying to get the word out because we know a lot of people don't know about this."

Fontana is concerned about issues such as traffic and storm water and wants to get more information on these matters at the public hearing.

Jay Johnson, Legat Architect studio director, said the proposal is part of the college's long-term plan for development and no funding sources are available for the new buildings and structures. Johnson explained that the submittal of the long-range plan is to give the college permission should it wish to build any new infrastructure in the future. 

So far the plan calls for a welcome building, totaling 4,500 square feet, and parking lot to be built adjacent to St. James the Apostle Catholic Church near Park Boulevard and 22nd Street. Four of the six three-story buildings will be constructed along the western edge of campus, and just north of the 120' water tower. Five new parking lots are included in the plan but it does not state how many parking spaces the new lots will accommodate. 

The proposed plan submitted to the zoning board of appeals also asks for the county to recognize conditional use permits for electronic message signs, and radio and television towers, antennas, which already exist. Johnson explained this is a procedure the college is taking since switching over to the county's jurisdiction, under an agreement with the village. 

Glen Ellyn Village officials were made aware of the proposed plans but will not conduct or enforce any permitting or zoning regulations, since the college is now under the jurisdiction of DuPage County for those matters.

Before construction can begin the zoning board of appeals and other county agencies will need to approve the college's planned development.