Kaizen Construction and its design team presented a concept plan on Aug. 13 to the Village of Westmont Planning and Zoning Commission for a planned unit development (PUD) at the properties listed as 129 and 135 East 50th Street (also described in materials as 50 Fifth Street). The applicant is proposing to consolidate the two parcels and build eight townhouse units in two buildings.

Dominic Lanzito, attorney for Kaizen Construction, said the proposal would be for eight "luxury" townhomes with a mix of one- and two-car garages; the two interior units in each building are shown with one-car garages and the four end units with two-car garages. The development concept shows a paved drive aisle with parking concentrated inside garages and three visitor spaces on the southwest corner of the site. Lanzito and the design team said they had worked with planning staff and a civil engineer on revisions addressing stormwater detention and circulation.

Commissioners and staff framed the concept meeting as a nonbinding opportunity to provide early feedback before a public hearing. Scott Williams (planning staff) summarized the approvals the project will require under the new code: because two buildings are proposed on one consolidated lot, the project must proceed as a planned-unit development and will require deviations from several standards (e.g., street-side setbacks for buildings and patios, balcony projections and fence standards on the Wilmette Street side). Williams also noted that 50th Street is under DuPage County Department of Transportation (DOT) jurisdiction and that traffic/ingress requirements (for example, a potential right-in/right-out restriction) and curb-cut dimensions will be shaped by DuPage DOT review.

Design and materials: Architect/representative Dimitri Belenka said the team plans to use James Hardie fiber-cement panels and trim along with stone accents. The elevations show gabled roof forms on the interior-facing elevations and a reworked rear (Wilmette-facing) elevation intended to resemble a “front” elevation because the units' rear yards will face the Wilmette right-of-way. Commissioners asked the team to enhance the Wilmette-facing elevation with additional architectural detail (gables, stone or masonry elements and improved balcony treatments) so the building appears intentionally finished on the street-facing side.

Parking, access and fire access: The site plan shows internal garages for each unit (four 2-car end-unit garages; four 1-car interior-unit garages) and three visitor parking stalls. Commissioners repeatedly raised parking adequacy concerns for eight townhomes, noting many households have two cars and that street parking along Wilmette and 50th Street may be limited or restricted. Staff and the applicant said fire access requirements will require a 24-foot-wide drive aisle; the fire department will not allow parking on the drive aisle, and the applicant will need to incorporate that requirement into HOA covenants or the PUD agreement. The applicant said the design team may reengineer the detention area to add additional parking spaces in the northwest corner if required.

Stormwater and landscaping: The site concept shows a dry detention area that staff and the applicant said could be landscaping-forward (native plantings and reeds), with a gazebo and a fenced detention area between the development and 50th Street. The village forester/public-works reviewer asked for a tree survey and noted that if heritage trees are present on-site, the developer would face additional conditions or costs for removal. Staff explained that sidewalks are required on Wilmette Street and that any landscaping shown in the public right-of-way would be shifted; the plan will need to show the public sidewalk and a parkway planting strip.

Other comments and site details: Commissioners suggested design changes including: mirroring the two center units so terraces are moved to outside elevations (to increase privacy and usable balcony area); enlarging second-floor balconies for more usable outdoor space; adding masonry wing walls or columns to visually anchor Wilmette-facing porches; screening of HVAC equipment; and avoiding small, odd windows on the third floor that appear inconsistent with the other fenestration. Commissioners and staff asked the applicant to coordinate early with DuPage DOT on curb cuts and turning movements; to confirm sidewalk and street-parking rules on Wilmette; to provide a tree survey and heritage-tree analysis; and to consider adding parking by reworking the engineered detention area if required.

Process and next steps: Planning staff outlined the expected PUD review steps under the new zoning ordinance: (1) public-hearing concept/development plan and special use for the PUD; (2) site-plan review and deviation considerations; and (3) final development agreement/HOA covenants as part of a PUD approval. Staff said nothing heard at the concept meeting is binding and asked the applicant to return with revised elevations, parking/detention alternatives, a tree survey and evidence of early coordination with DuPage County DOT. The commission did not vote on the concept (the meeting was an informal concept review); public notice and a future public hearing will be required before any approvals.