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Commission backs amendment to JJC student-housing PUD to allow non‑JJC tenants
Summary
The Planning Commission on April 8 recommended amending the 2001 PUD for Joliet Junior College student housing to remove tenant-eligibility and bedroom-count occupancy conditions, allowing the 128-unit complex to house non‑JJC tenants; staff reported no rental-inspection concerns.
The Joliet Planning Commission voted April 8 to recommend approval of an amendment to Ordinance No. 13226 that governs the Joliet Junior College student housing subdivision at 1524 Richard T. Rivera Way. The amendment, requested by Midwest REO VLLC (contract purchaser), would remove PUD conditions that limited tenancy to individuals affiliated with Joliet Junior College and specified occupant counts by bedroom; the recommendation goes to City Council on April 21 for final action.
Staff told the commission the development is a legal nonconforming use in the underlying R1 zoning because the PUD authorizes a multi‑family development on an R1 parcel. The site contains 128 units across six residential buildings and a clubhouse (the record plat reflects seven buildings in planning materials). Staff noted the property has participated in the city's Neighborhood Services rental inspection program since at least 2007 and that existing rental certificates expire in March and April 2026; staff indicated no current concerns about the requested amendment.
Andrew Scott, attorney for Midwest REO, said the property has operated for several years with a mix of JJC-affiliated and non-affiliated tenants and that declining student population over the past five to seven years reduced demand from solely JJC-affiliated residents. Scott said the petitioner seeks to continue operating the property in the general rental market while remaining subject to the city's inspection program and city codes governing occupancy.
Commissioners asked routine clarifying questions: whether old conditions tied to deadlines had been satisfied (staff: completed around 2002), whether the contract purchaser had observed issues with non‑JJC tenancy (staff: no major issues reported), whether additional units or exterior expansion were planned (petitioner: no firm plans; a separate ~5-acre parcel to the southeast might be contemplated in the future), and current occupancy (petitioner estimated about 96%; rental rates were not provided). No members of the public spoke.
A motion to recommend approval of the PUD amendment carried by roll call; commissioners voted to forward the amendment to City Council with a recommendation for approval. If Council approves, the change would remove tenant‑eligibility and occupancy conditions but would not alter the number of units or the development's exterior appearance.
Next steps include Council consideration on April 21 and any required updates to rental‑inspection records and the private maintenance agreement for Richard T. Rivera Way.
