How the southwest corner of Naper Boulevard and 75th Street in Naperville will develop has been debated for years.
After several meetings about what is appropriate for the 23 acres, the Naperville Plan Commission last week voted 5-3 to approve a development called Southport Village that would include 73 townhouses, three commercial buildings and a three-story assisted-living center.
The residential portion of the project by Southwest Naper Ltd. Partnership would include two- and three-bedroom townhouses from 2,100 square feet to 2,500 square feet. The commercial buildings would range from 9,755 square feet to 23,000 square feet and could include a drugstore and restaurant.
“I think we’ve got something that is going to be enjoyed by people who are going to live there,” said Plan Commission Chairman James Boyajian.
The plan was revised to make the site more pedestrian-friendly by adding sidewalks connecting adjacent residential areas to the commercial area and by orienting the buildings toward residential areas rather than 75th Street.
But the project met opposition from some commissioners and residents on the east side of Naper Boulevard across from the site.
“I don’t think this is the best we can do. There is a reason the city of Naperville did not want to develop land [for commercial use on the south side] of 75th. The reason is it did not want to develop another Ogden Avenue,” Plan Commissioner Gary Leavenworth said. “If we put commercial on this corner, how do we stop it from going all the way to Washington Street?”
The proposal will go before City Council members for final consideration.
