COD Removes 4 Buildings From Expansion Plan

After concerning the potential impact on home values and lack of detail surrounding College of DuPage's long-term planned development, DuPage County Board Member J.R. McBride released a statement May 15 announcing COD's plans to ditch some of its previous developments. 

“I’ve heard from a lot of residents who are concerned about increased traffic, lack of parking and flooding issues regarding CODs expansion plans. We understand those concerns and agree that the most important aspect of this project is public safety for not only the residents, but also for the students and faculty. We share that public safety priority with COD as we work on a compromise plan that will better reflect the residents concerns,” read McBride's statement.

The original plan, most recently reviewed by the DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals, called for the addition of approximately 734,000 square feet of new buildings to Glen Ellyn's 273-acre campus. The college is scrapping plans to add a welcome center near St. James Church and its adjacent parking lot, plus three buildings located on the campus' western edge near Park Boulevard and College Road. 

During the May 10 ZBA meeting, homeowners packed the room to share their concerns about the potential impact these buildings would have on their homes values. Staci Hulseberg, Glen Ellyn's planning and development director, and Robert Kartholl, chairman of the zoning board of appeals, voiced their concerns about the lack of detail in the plans. The use of many buildings were unclear and Hulseberg said that makes it hard to determine the impact on surrounding neighbors. 

The next ZBA meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 21 in the auditorium of the DuPage County JTK Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.