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Aurora council pauses Eola Preserve rezoning amid resident traffic and privacy concerns
Summary
Council voted to hold a proposed rezoning for 620 N. Eola Road (Eola Preserve) for two weeks after residents and aldermen pressed the developer on traffic, left‑turn safety and screening; petitioner presented a traffic study concluding a stoplight is not warranted and proposed site changes.
The Aurora City Council on Nov. 12 agreed to hold for two weeks consideration of an ordinance to rezone 620 North Eola Road to allow a townhome development dubbed Eola Preserve, after residents raised traffic-safety and privacy concerns and the petitioner presented supplemental traffic analysis.
Alderman Ron Worman moved to delay the ordinance so developers and neighbors could continue talks; the motion passed unanimously by voice roll call (12–0) to hold the item. Caitlin Chalk, attorney for the petitioner, said the developer had run supplemental counts and a full warrant analysis and concluded that DuPage County would not approve a traffic signal at the intersection. “After the development Waterstone’s peak volume is expected to be 27 vehicles per hour,” Chalk said, adding that a stoplight would require roughly four times the traffic volume measured.
Residents and aldermen described frequent delays and hazardous left-turn movements from the neighborhood onto Eola Road. Neighbor Greg Bulger said adding about 100 cars from the proposed project would make existing egress “an absolute disaster waiting to happen.” Teen driver Ruhan Shah said his morning left turn to school can take six to seven minutes and called for a signal to protect students.
Chalk discussed mitigation steps the petitioner proposed after earlier meetings: a separate right‑out, widening Waterstone Drive to add turn lanes, and preserving wetlands by rezoning portions to open space. She said DuPage County rejected a proposed median widening this week but that the petitioner would continue to press for county improvements and would consider additional design changes. “We are happy to keep putting pressure on DuPage County for some improvements at this intersection,” she said.
Council members asked staff and the petitioner to provide the supplemental traffic studies, crash-data analysis, proposed drawings and any alternate design options before the next meeting. Aldermen also relayed resident requests for increased screening and restrictions on rooftop decks for the buildings adjacent to single-family homes. The council’s delay preserves the current regulatory status while staff and the petitioner continue negotiations and technical follow-up.
The ordinance would amend Chapter 49 of the City Code to change zoning to R4A and OS1 for the site; no final action on the rezoning was taken Nov. 12. The matter is scheduled to return to council following the two‑week hold.
