Planning commission OKs Salt Creek Ballet’s special-use permit and setback variance to remain at 98 E. Naperville Road

The Village of Westmont Planning and Zoning Commission on May 14 recommended Village Board approval of a special-use permit for Salt Creek Ballet to operate a performing-arts studio at 98 East Naperville Road and granted a variance to waive the code’s 100-foot distance separation requirement between a performing-arts studio and a residential district.

Salt Creek Ballet, a nonprofit that has operated on the property for more than two decades, requested the special-use permit because the performing-arts studio use is now a special-use requirement in the B-2 General Business District. Staff said the company had been a longstanding nonconforming occupant of the building and that moving the studio to the second floor triggers the need for formal special-use approval; the commission recommended approval.

Lauren Kavanaugh, president of the Salt Creek Ballet board of directors, described the organization’s programming and local partnerships and said the school has nine employees (two full-time and seven part-time) and serves dancers from preschool age through adults. "We present professional quality performances to diverse area audiences," Kavanaugh said. She told commissioners that weekday evening demand is modest and that weekday daytime parking typically averages about 10 cars, with peaks of 12–15 on weekday evenings and 20–30 on Saturday mornings.

Staff told the commission that the code requires a special-use permit for performing-arts studios in B-2 and cited Appendix A section 12 o 3 d regarding relocation of nonconforming uses: "Nonconforming uses of land cannot be relocated to another location on the same lot unless it conforms to all regulation of the zoning district after being relocated," staff said. Because the existing building footprint and property lines place the structure close to an R-3 residential zone to the north, Salt Creek also requested a variance from the 100-foot separation requirement; the commission approved that variance.

Commissioners indicated general support, noting the studio’s long tenure in town and the complementary hours to Primrose School (the daycare on the same parcel). Commissioner Kim Sharp moved to recommend the special use; Commissioner Mike Simpson seconded. For the 100-foot separation variance, Commissioner Simpson moved and Commissioner Donahue seconded. Both motions passed on unanimous roll calls.

Next steps: staff will place the special-use permit and variance on the Village Board agenda for final action. Kavanaugh and staff said any façade changes, signage or large interior modifications will require separate permit review.