Changes made to venue proposal address neighbors concerns about noise, nuisance
By Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff
Questions of how a new business in Plainfield will operate, and how that business will affect neighbors, continue to come before the village’s planning commission.
In February, commissioners heard from the owners of the Farmhouse for a second time, on plans to expand the business at Plainfield-Naperville Road and 127th Street. The owners want to add a special events venue to their site, which already houses a reclaimed wood business.
The Farmhouse has hosted a few special markets since it opened last year and wants to continue to offer the service by way of hosting wedding receptions, private parties, and other gatherings.
Earlier in February, residents of the neighboring Farmstone Ridge subdivision approached the commission, worried that adding the venue service could create excess noise and traffic in their neighborhood. Those same neighbors said that during some special events at the Farmhouse, visitors trespassed though their yards and noise was excessive.
The applicants worked with village staff on some changes to their proposal, which were presented to the commission on Feb. 20.
Changes include scrapping plans for a large tent in favor of a permanent, 3,500 square-foot building, which would have a maximum capacity of 150 patrons. The 150-person maximum was reduced from the 200 to 250 maximum previously proposed.
The venue would also add permenant restroom, as well as a four-foot tall decorative wood fence, proposed to be located along the east and south property lines to discourage trespassing and to provide visual and sound buffering.
Additional low-level lighting would also be installed.
Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx said that during a sound test, noise did encroach onto nearby properties. However, Proulx said the proposed new conditions – including adding the fully enclosed venue structure – would likely reduce that sound.
“Staff recognizes that there are opportunities for sound mitigation,” Proulx said. “Staff feels confident that it is possible, it is not an impossible task.”
Owner Cynthia Paine said the goal of the Farmhouse is to create a one-of-a-kind business for the entire area.
“Anybody who visits this property really walks away with a nice feeling about it,” Paine said. “We originally had hoped to turn it into an event venue, and then realized that maybe the simplest way to move forward right away was to focus on our reclaimed business and… furniture business. So, we kind of moved in that direction to take baby steps. But… since we had the holiday vintage market at the Farmhouse, overwhelmingly people were enchanted by the property. Following that event, we have been inundated with requests for events. Quite honestly, it was too hard to ignore.”
Neighbors in Farmstone Ridge told members of the commission that they still had concerns over noise, parking, and hours of operation.
Members of the plan commission noted that there is not a request for a variance on the village’s noise ordinance, so the Farmhouse will have to comply with current requirements to keep noise at a certain level or below.
Staff will continue to review the site plan.
That site plan will come before the Plan Commission at least one more time before it is forwarded to the full village board for approval.
The public hearing regarding the Farmhouse has been continued until April 3.