Commission backs zoning change and special use for indoor sports facility at 348 Charles Court, with conditions

The West Chicago Planning Commission on Sept. 3 recommended a zoning text amendment to define “indoor sports facility” in the manufacturing district and recommended a related special use permit for West Chicago Volleyball LLC (doing business as Chi City Volleyball) to locate at 348 Charles Court. The two recommendations were recorded as separate items: PC 25-20 (zoning text amendment) passed by roll call 5-0; PC 25-19 (special use) passed on a 4-0 vote with one abstention.

Staff described the building as a 260,000-square-foot cross-dock warehouse constructed in 2022 with existing parking and two access points; the petitioner proposes to lease roughly 86,000 square feet for League One Volleyball/Chi City Volleyball to host training, junior programs and occasional events. Petitioners proposed adding 121 parking stalls on the west side of the building and pursuing a parking agreement with an owner across the street for overflow parking.

Jamie Lyons, representing League One Volleyball, said the League supports Chi City and that the club is part of a network. "We're 79 clubs across, I believe, 26 states," Lyons said, describing the organization and its youth and community programming. Jason Giecek, associate director for Chi City, said the club currently serves about 300 players across roughly 30 teams and that weekday activities are primarily practices starting after 4 p.m., with events concentrated on weekends.

Commissioners probed truck circulation, pedestrian routes, the location of entrances and where trucks currently operate on the site. Petitioners said truck operations and pedestrian parking are separated: Jason Giecek said south-end parking would allow attendees to walk to the facility without crossing truck paths. Commissioners proposed conditions to reduce conflict risk: a parking agreement with the across‑street property before issuance of a certificate of occupancy, striping the proposed parking area per the striping plan, installation of a double door at the southeast corner for direct pedestrian access, signage directing trucks to exit on a specified end of the building after a stated hour, and required permits for door work.

The commission recorded the zoning text amendment vote (PC 25-20) by roll call (five yes, zero no). For the special use permit (PC 25-19) the motion passed with four yes, zero no, one abstention (Commissioner Banasiak). Both items will go to the development committee on Sept. 8 for further review.