Downtown plan OK'd by Village Board

Almost two years after the process first began, Glen Ellyn has hit on a unified vision for the future of the downtown business district.

The Village Board voted unanimously Oct. 27 to accept the final draft of the plan formulated by Town Builders Studio in consultation with village staff and the Downtown Advisory Committee.

"The plan is conceptual in nature and subject to change over time," Village Planning Director Staci Hulseberg said.

Town Builders held interviews with more than 100 residents in Aprril 2008, renting office space on Main Street and holding public forums.

In June 2008, the group took the information gathered from residents and held a brainstorming session to put ideas into a concrete plan for downtown.

The planning resulted in two separate visions for the area.

The "Glen" focused on the green space extending from the Glen Ellyn Public Library, running along the railroad tracks and extending all the way to Lake Ellyn.

"Main Street" emphasized the retail nature of Main Street and used it as the focal point of redevelopment.

The final plan, designed to guide downtown development for the next 10 to 20 years, is a blending of the two visions.

The suggestions, many of which were parts of both concepts, include:

• An attractive residential downtown neighborhood, including a new district in the Crescent Boulevard and Glenwood Avenue area.

• Emphasis on the green spaces along the railroad tracks.

• A new train station with the intention of using part of it as an activity center.

• One or more parking structures to accommodate downtown business parking and future commuters.

• A new and modern fire station.

• A pedestrian underpass near the train station.

The stated goal of the plan is to make downtown Glen Ellyn, much of which was built in another retail era, economically viable and a center of community activity and social life.

Toward that end, the plan calls for a marketing campaign to highlight Glen Ellyn's strengths and a downtown organizational structure to serve business and development.

Residents were generally supportive, but did have a few reservations.

"The plan will eliminate a lot of surface parking," Ken Kloss said.

Kloss also noted that he didn't think a "clear majority" of Glen Ellyn residents were in favor of the plan.

Chris Wilson expressed concern about the height of the buildings and worried that new buildings might dwarf historic structures.

"I'm still concerned about the height of the buildings downtown," she said.

Hulseberg stressed that each individual future development would be considered separately, with residents having the chance to state their opinions at village planning sessions.