A long-vacant lot on East Roosevelt Road could become eight townhouses if Wheaton's Planning and Zoning Board approves a special use permit under review Tuesday, July 28.
Roosevelt Commons LLC, based in Lombard, is seeking the permit to build three-story townhomes at 1701 E. Roosevelt Road, a 0.6-acre parcel on the north side of Roosevelt Road between Prospect Avenue and Lorraine Road. The site was previously used for automobile storage by a former car dealership and has sat empty for years, according to city planner Tracy L. Jones's staff report.
The developer, identified in the application as Bismillah Builders LLC / LuxLax Homes, filed on behalf of property owner Sabet M. Siddiqui. Jones recommends approval subject to conditions including a solid fence along the rear property line, monument sign compliance, elimination of a requested setback variation, and resolution of engineering concerns.
Each unit would stand about 36.6 feet tall, with a ground-floor single-car garage and guest room, a first-floor living area and kitchen, and two bedrooms on the second floor. Exteriors would feature brick veneer, fiber cement siding, and stone accents. The plan includes 20 parking spaces across garages, driveways, and guest spots, exceeding the zoning ordinance minimum of 14.
The hearing was continued from Tuesday, July 14, after city engineering staff flagged concerns about stormwater management. Engineers noted the site plan lacks a defined overland flow route from the rear yard to the proposed underground detention system, and that runoff could spill onto the neighboring eastern property. That could require removing one unit. Resolving the drainage issue may force the project down to seven townhouses, Jones wrote in her report.
Roosevelt Commons also initially requested a setback variation to allow a 12.6-foot east side yard instead of the required 15 feet. Staff believes the site plan can be modified to eliminate that request.
College Church parking lot pushed to August
The board's other case, College Church in Wheaton's proposal to build a 70-space parking lot at the northeast corner of Scott Street and Seminary Avenue, is headed for a reset. The church, located at 332 E. Seminary Ave., wants to rezone seven residential parcels (301, 305, 311, 315, 319, 323, and 325 E. Seminary Ave.) for the lot, which would include 17 accessible spaces.
The hearing first opened Tuesday, June 23, and was continued to July 28 to give the church time to revise its plans. College Church has since made revisions significant enough to trigger a new public hearing requirement, according to the staff memo prepared for Chair Aranas and the board. The nature of those revisions has not been disclosed publicly.
Staff recommends the board close the current hearing Tuesday and open a fresh one on Tuesday, August 11, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
How to participate
The Tuesday, July 28 meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St. Residents can also join via Zoom or by phone at (312) 626-6799, Meeting ID 871 0141 7326, Passcode 645331. The next scheduled P&Z hearing is Tuesday, August 11.
