The Naperville Plan Commission recently approved a city plan for redeveloping the Water Street corridor.
Five commissioners voted last week in favor of the plan and Commissioner Derke Price abstained from the vote.
Price said that although he liked the plan, he was hesitant to approve it because the City Council has not yet acted on the recently recommended downtown master plan.
“It’s hard for me to recommend this. I think the timing is off,” Price said.
City planners said the study is consistent with the proposed downtown plan.
The Water Street area is about 4 acres bounded by the DuPage River to the north, Aurora Avenue to the south, Main Street to the east and Webster Street to the west. The area includes a handful of commercial and residential parcels with various owners.
The plan includes several recommendations for redeveloping the area. The study was drafted by city staff and refined by members of the Riverwalk Commission, Downtown Naperville Alliance, Naperville Development Partnership, Naper Settlement, Naperville Homeowners Confederation and area property owners.
The study specifically encourages redevelopment to maintain the characteristics of downtown Naperville, mixed land uses for the area and pedestrian access to downtown businesses, the Riverwalk, Municipal Center and Naper Settlement. It recommends adding benches, decorative lighting, trees and landscaping to downtown streets, and it urges that parking, traffic circulation and storm-water management be thoroughly accommodated.
“I like [the plan]. It’s refreshing,” said Commissioner Gary Leavenworth.
The Plan Commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council for consideration at an upcoming meeting.
