Expansion Sought By St. Michael Church To Accommodate More Students

WHEATON, IL — Wheaton's planning and zoning board will consider a request by St. Michael Catholic Church to expand its footprint, demolishing a vacant West Suburban Bank building on West Street, constructing additional space and adding parking. The proposal will be considered at the planning and zoning committee's May 13 meeting.

City documents show that St. Michael Catholic Church is seeking a special use permit, along with zoning variations of the property that includes 314 and 317 W. Willow Ave., 221 S. West St. and 216 S. Wheaton Ave.

The current school and church were built in 2006, per city documents. The current building, which is located at 310 S. Wheaton Avenue, serves just over 530 students.

The petitioners aim to extend the church and school campus's footprint east to Wheaton Avenue, west to West Street, south to Illinois Street and north to the adjacent alley.

The current property has 27 spaces for school parking. Petitioners aim to add two lots with a total of 88 new parking spaces that would be designated for use by the school.

Per city documents, "The proposed expansion aims to improve traffic flow for school drop-off and pick-up by allowing more bus and passenger vehicle queuing on-site. Additionally, the expansion would provide extra on-site parking and an expanded playground area."

Parts of the proposed expansion site will need to be rezoned for the project to move forward. Currently, 317 W. Willow Ave., 221 S. West St. and 216 S. Wheaton Ave. are zoned C-4 for Central Business District perimeter commercial construction. To permit a church property, the above addresses will need to be rezoned to an I-2 Institutional District.

The meeting is set for May 13 at 7 p.m. If the zoning variations and special use permit are recommended, the project will move to the Wheaton City Council for review.