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Residents urge council to oppose rezoning for Starbucks and car wash at Esta Street
Summary
A representative of the Lexington Trace HOA told the Warrenville City Council that a proposed rezoning at 30W63 and 30W81 Esta Street for a Starbucks (drive-through) and a car wash would harm neighborhood safety, character and property values and urged denial when the plan goes before the plan commission this week.
Rocky Serwinsky, who identified himself as the newly appointed president of the Lexington Trace homeowners association, told the Warrenville City Council during public comment that residents strongly oppose a proposed rezoning and development at 30W63 and 30W81 Esta Street that would allow a car wash and a drive-through Starbucks. "This proposal . . . poses significant and irreversible harm to the safety, character, and livability of our residential community," Serwinsky said, asking the city to protect the neighborhood and "deny this application in full."
Serwinsky listed specific concerns: increased vehicle congestion on Esta Street and Barkley Avenue that would raise safety risks for pedestrians and children; light, noise and odor from the car wash and commercial signage; visual incompatibility with surrounding low-density housing; and a likely downward effect on nearby property values. He said the rezoning would set a precedent for further commercial encroachment into residential zones.
The speaker said the application includes multiple requests — rezoning from R2 to commercial classifications, preliminary plat re-subdivision, and special-use permits for a drive-through and an automobile laundry — and that the plan commission and zoning board of appeals will consider the formal proposal this Thursday. The council did not vote on the rezoning at the May 5 meeting; Serwinsky’s remarks were recorded under public comment and will become part of the record for the plan commission’s upcoming hearing.
The meeting transcript does not record any rebuttal from the developer or a city staff presentation on the application during this council meeting. The matter is scheduled to proceed to the plan commission and zoning board of appeals for formal review.
