Zoning Variations Requested To Build Franklin Middle School Add-on

WHEATON, IL — The Wheaton City Council will consider a request Monday for setback and parking ordinance variations that would permit crews to build an 8,400 square foot addition to Franklin Middle School.

The expansion is part of work funded by a $151.5 million bond referendum District 200 presented to voters in the November 2024 election. The majority of voters favored the referendum, which will also fund work on Monroe and Edison Middle Schools.

According to city documents, the "site is bounded on all sides by public streets, creating a front yard setback condition on all sides. As a result, the existing school site has limited options for expansion that would not require a building setback variation."

Additionally, "[t]he existing interior floor plan for music education also limits the applicant’s options to the location that they are proposing."

To build the 8,400 square foot expansion, crews plan to eliminate a 15-space parking lot on the site. Two of these spaces are handicap accessible.

In addition to 11 parking spaces at the school, staff and visitors also have access to 174 parking spaces on the street, per city documents. City code requires 150 parking spaces for such a development.

If parking becomes an issue, Franklin Middle School may consider adding angled parking spaces on Scott Street, to the east, or create parking on the west side of the campus, city documents show.

District 200 plans to partner with St. John's Church to share 32 parking spaces with the church. City documents show that District 200 will formalize this agreement.

The addition to Franklin Middle School will be located on the northwest portion of the school grounds and is set to be used for performing arts, including classrooms and practice spaces. The design aims to provide better acoustics and storage for musical instruments.

At its April 22 hearing, the city's planning and zoning board unanimously recommended the requested variations for approval.

The city council meeting will be held July 2 at 7 p.m. in the Wheaton City Council Chambers.