Plan Commission Gives Off Mixed Signals About Five Corners Property

The Glen Ellyn Plan Commission sent mixed signals Thursday about what to do with the space at 825 Main Street.

Three of the commissioners were able to say what plans they liked the best, but a number of commissioners said they were uncomfortable committing to something this early. Commissioner Todd Buckton expressed it the best during Thursday's meeting.

“Even though I appreciate staff bringing it to us, I feel it is too soon,” Buckton said. “I’m not ready to make a decision on this yet, because there are too many things that are unanswered.”

Village Planner Michele Stegall and David Kennedy, a principal of PPK Architects, presented the commissioners seven plans with how the village could develop the land that used to be the home of a Marathon gas station.

Three of the plans showcased different options for 825 Main Street, which were referenced by the commissioners as being the “Type A” plans. The other four plans include the property of 817 Main St., which currently houses Main Cleaners. Stegall said the owner of the property is open to selling. These four plans were referred as “Type B.”

Stegall stressed numerous times that the plans presented Thursday were concept plans.

“These are concept plans only. They are subject to change,” Stegall said, adding that the point of Thursday’s meeting was to “spur some conversation.”

As the plans were being designed, Kennedy highlighted a number of issues with the area. First is parking, and where the lots would be in relation to the building and the roads.

Kennedy said he personally preferred the option “B2,” in which the length of the building would run along Main Street and St. Charles Road. The parking space would be located behind it, adjacent to the other commercial and residential properties in the area.

Acting chairman Jay Strayer expressed reservations with this arrangement of parking, as he related a personal anecdote of a friend whose business failed because customers “couldn’t find” his business.

Water detention was another issue. Some of the plans provided for above-ground detention ponds. But because of the limited space on the land, underground detention will have to be used, which according to Kennedy, is a much more expensive option.

It was also an issue for a number of residents who showed up. MaryJo Whitlock, a Glen Ellyn resident who lives at 606 St. Charles Road (two houses down from 825 Main St.), said her family has had to spend extra money on extra drains.

“Each time there has been additional development, there’s more water in my basement,” Whitlock said.

Whitlock also expressed concerns about traffic. With her driveway leading out to St. Charles Road, she is always concerned about her safety when she has to enter and exit her house. She also wondered what kind of effect having an exit on St. Charles Road would have.

Another concern was finances. Randy Parker, chairman of the finance commission, said he found it interesting that the commission was not going to consider a gas station. There also had been no consideration of finances so far.

“I think it would make sense for the commission to do some homework on that before the plan gets too far along,” Parker said.

Some commissioners did give their recommendations. Commissioner Craig Bormann endorsed A3 and B4, and said he saw the concepts as more of a marketing plan than anything else.

Strayer concluded this part of the meeting by apologizing to Stegall for all of the mixed signals. Stegall said there will be more discussions about this area among the village staff.