Wheaton's zoning board is set to vote Wednesday, Sept. 9, on College Church's plan for a 53-space parking lot near Seminary Avenue.

The hearing was supposed to happen Aug. 11. It didn't. Two public-notice signs had been posted on the church's property. The city removed one after determining only one was required. The remaining sign disappeared on hearing day, and the city attorney recommended postponing.

Wheaton staff planner Tracy Jones said the cause remains unclear. "Maybe Public Works accidentally took both down or if the tornado blew it away or if someone took it, we're not really sure," Jones told The Wheaton Record.

To prevent a repeat, Jones ordered five signs posted for the Sept. 9 hearing, one on each of the church's five lots. She said the extra precaution was unusual but necessary after the delay.

What the church is asking for

College Church's application bundles three zoning requests: a special use permit required for any religious institution expanding, a rezoning of five lots from residential to institutional, and a setback variation to reduce the required buffer along College Avenue from 15 feet to 5 feet. The rezoning must be approved before the church can submit construction plans.

The current proposal is the fourth revision. The original plan called for 70 spaces with 17 ADA-compliant spots. The latest version reduces that to 53 spaces, with five ADA-compliant spots and 27 designed for people with limited mobility, such as seniors or pregnant women.

College Church demolished seven houses on East Seminary Avenue earlier this year to clear the site, as The Wheaton Record reported in April.

Neighbors vs. church

Neighbors have organized against the project, delivering a PowerPoint presentation to zoning board members at a prior hearing. Jones noted the intensity of community interest, saying parking lot projects can draw strong public reaction.

The church's attorney, David Bea of Bea and Mays, said the church has tried to meet neighbors partway. "The church made several significant changes since then to address most of their objections although a handful said they would oppose any plan no matter what changes were made," Bea told The Wheaton Record.

Nancy Singer, College Church's director of administration and finance, said the church has worked with neighbors and submitted its plan to the zoning board, hoping for approval to move forward.

Mitchell Wang, a Wheaton College sophomore who has attended College Church for a year, said he sees the lot as a benefit for the church's older congregation and growing ministries. He added that he understands why nearby homeowners may feel uncomfortable with a parking lot close to their homes.

What's next

If the zoning board recommends approval Wednesday, the proposal would advance to the Wheaton City Council for a final decision. The Sept. 9 hearing is open to the public.