Wheaton council directs ordinance for Islamic Center parking, approves detention changes despite neighbor concerns

WHEATON, Ill. — The Wheaton City Council voted Jan. 6 to direct the city attorney to prepare an ordinance to amend the special use permit for the Islamic Center of Wheaton at 900 E. Geneva Road to allow a 15-space net increase in parking, a right‑in/right‑out connection to Geneva Road and a driveway interconnect with the adjacent property.

Neighbors raised stormwater and screening concerns during the meeting, saying the project will require raising a berm around the center—s detention pond and removing a mature row of arborvitae that currently screens headlights and provides privacy. Jane Beatty, president of the Wheaton Pine Grove Homeowners Association, said the association submitted engineering and landscape concerns to city staff and asked the council and consultants to review them before a final vote. "We respectfully request that you and V3 consultants take the time to review and consider our issues and propose changes before any vote is taken," Beatty said.

Why it matters: The amendment seeks to expand parking and formalize a new drive connection while also requiring the detention basin be brought into compliance with its originally permitted design. The engineering changes include raising the southern berm of the detention pond to the elevation shown on the original 1990s permit and adding a small additional detention volume for the new parking. That work affects…