by Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff
An old warehouse just off of Plainfield’s Historic East Side has become an unexpected gem for the neighborhood, turning what was once a bulky, unattractive building into a destination.
Now, Warehouse 109 in the Warehouse District between Center Street and Eastern Avenue will add an outdoor venue to its list of must-sees.
On May 7, trustees approved a site plan review and special use permit for an outdoor ceremony area at Warehouse 109, extending the boundary of the site to include the vacant lot next door.
That vacant lot had been previously approved to house an office building, however, the owners recently changed gears for how to develop the site.
Per the staff report, the addition will complement the existing Warehouse 109 use, creating an additional space to host events, for the same number of guests already permitted. Village staff told the board that the new use could benefit the overall community and draw patrons to the Plainfield area.
The applicant, Two Sisters, RE, will develop the vacant property on Eastern Avenue into a landscaped ceremony area for additional use of the venue, including outdoor ceremonies.
The space will only be in use prior to 8 p.m., and any music in the ceremony area will be ambient acoustic music. The area will be for seasonal use, primarily utilized during warm weather months.
Members of the board had a few concerns over parking at the site.
“I love seeing that there’s so much economic expansion,” said Trustee Cally Larson. “My concern is the parking; do we have enough parking? Because I think that this is adding another value in a sense that, it’s not just indoor, it’s outdoor. Everyone wants an outdoor wedding or a facility it seems, that it’s going to attract enough people. But with that, are we attracting too much?”
Staff noted that part of the parking lot is gravel, and has potential to be developed for additional parking spaces.
“Staff does believe there’s sufficient parking here,” said Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx. “In addition, we don’t view this proposed request to add additional intensity of use at the property, because how we foresee it being used is that people who are already coming to Warehouse 109 to celebrate for a reception, a portion of those guests would come for a formal ceremony. So, it’s part of the activities that are already going on at the site, so we don’t foresee an increase in parking demand.”
Per the staff report, the new use is not injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the
immediate area for the purposes already permitted and does not substantially diminish property values within the neighborhood.
Potential noise generated will be slightly mitigated by the vegetation that is being proposed for the subject site, including rose bushes, shrubs, and trees.
In addition, the applicant will be making improvements to the site that will significantly improve the overall appearance of the lot.
The site will include a wood deck on the east area of the site, a banquet-style seating area on sod, a theatre-style seating area on sod, pea gravel, a limestone paver walk-way, and an abundance of landscaping throughout.
The applicant also still has potential plans to construct an office building to the east and south, which would provide additional buffering. That building would be subject to future site plan review.