A house on the west side of Washington Street could become the new design headquarters of DJK Custom Homes if the Naperville City Council takes the recommendation of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commissioners this past week unanimously endorsed two zoning variances the residential builder needs to turn the existing residence at 557 S. Washington St., just south of downtown, into its design studio and office.
The variances would allow a smaller side-yard setback than code requires so a 20-foot-wide commercial driveway can be built and would permit more than 25% of the back yard to be occupied by a parking lot.
The 1,865-square-foot house on the property sits in the transitional use zoning district, and DJK Custom Homes is not seeking to change that designation, project attorney Michael Roth said.
Neighboring properties as the area transitions from commercial to residential include a dentist’s office to the south, a law office to the north, offices across Washington to the east and houses behind the site to the west.
“We think it fits in very well with the transitional use zoning category,” Roth said about DJK’s design studio plans. “It won’t impose any hardship on any of the surrounding properties. Everything is already developed.”
Located north of Porter Avenue, the house on the site already appears to be in the process of renovations. Roth said work on the structure will include updates to ensure accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building “is being designed in a manner that is compatible with the adjacent residential neighborhood to the west,” according to petition documents DJK submitted to the city.
The commission’s recommendation for the council to approve the requested zoning variances came quickly and unanimously, with the public hearing lasting roughly 10 minutes.
Commissioners praised DJK’s plans for improving handicapped accessibility and including landscape screening between the parking lot and houses to the west. Commissioner Mark Wright said this will “soften the transition” and create a logical development.
New Commissioner Allison Longenbaugh, who was appointed to a role on the commission after her resignation from the Naperville City Council, said she checked out the site and supports the needed variances, especially for a property on a street as busy as Washington.
Her peers on the panel agreed.
“I actually think it’s a much-needed, smart update,” Commissioner Derek McDaniel said. “It’s going to look very nice.”
Marie Wilson is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
