Plan Commission recommends approval for nine-unit multifamily building at 227 S. Westmore Myers Road

The Lombard Plan Commission recommended approval of a requested density variation that would allow a nine-unit multifamily building at 227 South Westmore Myers Road. The commission voted unanimously to forward the recommendation to the Village Board for final action on Feb. 6, 2025.

The property owner, who identified himself as Mohammad and said he is a local investor and builder, and project consultant Mark Daniel presented the proposal. Daniel described the lot as a platted historic lot and said the petitioner is seeking relief from the Zoning Ordinance requirement of 2,800 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit (the R-4 district calculation) to allow nine three-bedroom dwellings where the ordinance would otherwise permit seven units.

Daniel said the building is designed with three vertical columns of units (two columns of three-bedroom units and one column of two-bedroom units) and includes two ADA-accessible units (one two-bedroom on the first floor and one three-bedroom on the first floor), parking that complies with the ordinance, landscaping beds and an on-site open space area intended to remain passive. He said the project’s footprint and building envelope meet bulk standards and that the request is limited to density relief.

Staff entered the interdepartmental review report into the record and recommended approval subject to conditions. Staff advised the commission that the comprehensive plan designates the site as low–medium density multifamily and that, while the proposed nine-unit density numerically exceeds the by-right calculation, a neighborhood context analysis shows several nearby parcels with higher densities and recent multifamily development. Staff also noted the petitioner held a virtual neighborhood meeting and that no comments had been received opposing the petition as of the hearing.

Commission discussion touched on the transitional 50-foot setback adjacent to the R-2 single-family district to the east, how the project proposes to meet its open-space and landscape requirements, private fences along lot lines, and stormwater conveyance improvements that the petitioner said should reduce a current low-lying soggy area at the southeast corner of the lot. The interdepartmental report and petitioner testimony noted conditions concerning a private fire hydrant and EV readiness; those items were listed among the staff conditions.

Commissioner Verson moved to accept the interdepartmental findings and recommend approval of PC 25-1 subject to the four staff conditions; Commissioner Johnson seconded. A roll call vote recorded aye votes from Commissioners Versen, Johnson, Flanagan, Springberg and Chair Giuliano. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action Feb. 6, 2025.