A downtown Naperville hotel development moved a step closer to winning city approval Tuesday night.
City councilmen voted 6-2 in favor of the revised Water Street development plans that add banquet space, increase heights slightly and reduce the size of a plaza.
The development proposed by Marquette Companies already included a hotel, 520-space parking garage, shops and restaurants. It is planned for a 2.4-acre site bounded by Aurora Avenue on the south, the DuPage River on the north, Main Street on the east and Webster Street on the west.
The City Council gave preliminary approval to a version in 2007, but work never got off the ground. Marquette revised the plan and brought it back in 2012 and continued to rework it until winning approval from the council in April 2013.
The developer’s additional tweaks since that time require another round of approvals.
“We believe they are a minimal scope and maintain the integrity of the Water Street district as approved in 2013,” said Jeff Prosapio, director of project management for Marquette.
Among the changes are reducing the size of the plaza and increasing the footprint of one of the buildings along the Riverwalk. Developers also have added nearly 5,000 square feet of restaurant space and added mechanical screenings on the rooftop that increased three building heights by 2 to 5 feet.
Marquette also has added a banquet space, concerning some who say there won’t be enough parking in the garage during large events.
In addition to parking, four residents who spoke Tuesday brought up issues like traffic and the size of the buildings.
“The height shaved off 18 months ago is creeping back because the developer needs more return on investment,” said Bob Fischer, president of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation.
Responding to criticism, Prosapio said the mechanical screenings will be pushed back from the edge of the buildings and a valet service will move cars to off-site lots during peak times.
Councilman Bob Fieseler acknowledged there are challenges, but said they don’t outweigh the benefits.
“I see this as a great opportunity and .. I think what we’re giving up on behalf of residents is going to be made up for in how appealing this hotel with this banquet facility is going to be,” he said.
Councilmen Grant Wehrli and Doug Krause voted against the project.
“This is like the brand new car everybody wants,” Wehrli said. “It’s really cool, the only problem with this project is … we’re trying to park it in a closet. It just doesn’t fit.”
Councilmen could make a final vote on the plans next month and also still need to finalize financial issues with the developer. The project will get some of its funding from public dollars because it is in a tax increment financing district. Marquette hopes to break ground before the end of the year.
