DuPage County hearing on Chinmaya Mission planned development draws safety and traffic concerns

The DuPage County Zoning and Planning Commission held a public hearing Jan. 23 on case 24-0077, an application by Chinmaya Mission Chicago for a conditional use planned development in Downers Grove Township that would combine two parcels totaling roughly 24–25 acres and add detached and attached residential units and a small commercial building while seeking a limited height exception.

The applicant, represented by attorney Phil Lutkehans, told the commission the project would preserve the mission’s existing 10,500-square-foot building, add a one-story 17,900-square-foot addition for education and services, and include a roughly 14,000–14,172-square-foot commercial building intended to serve residents. “We’re only seeking a 3 foot height exception,” Lutkehans said, clarifying the request was to raise the building height to about 40 feet rather than the 47 feet noted in the notice.

The proposed development spans two parcels the applicant described as about 8.15 acres (north) and 16.3 acres (south). Lutkehans said the plan would provide a mix of housing marketed largely to older members of the faith community and estimated a total residential density substantially below what nearby R5 and R6 zoning would permit. The project team distributed seven exhibits, including a survey, site plan, traffic study (exhibit 4, with a two-page supplement 4a to add the commercial building), a landscape plan and a copy of the county dark skies…