People who want to live near Joliet Junior College will soon officially have a place they can call their home.
The Joliet City Council Tuesday approved an amendment to an existing ordinance that now allows a multi-family development to serve tenants that are not affiliated with Joliet Junior College.
“Due to current market conditions, the development may not be financially viable if the current tenant eligibility requirements remain,” according to a memo drafted by Joliet’s planning staff.
The planned unit development of Joliet Junior College (JJC) student housing subdivision was approved in June 2001. The development contained six residential buildings and one clubhouse building located to the southeast of the main campus of Joliet Junior College and is assessed by a private road, Richard T. Rivera Way, which is owned and maintained by the college. The occupancy for units at the location was stipulated to not exceed 296 people in the buildings.
There are 12 efficiency apartment units in the buildings that each measure 495 square feet; 96 two bedrooms/two bathrooms that measure 610 square feet; and 19 four bedroom/two bathrooms that measure 873 square feet.
As outlined in the agreement approved back in 2001, the development was to be owned by the Joliet Junior College Foundation and was to be occupied by students, faculty and staff of the junior college. But in 2017, a foreclosure was filed for the mortgage held by the foundation.
In 2019, the property was sold to the current owner, Midwest REO. At some point in its history, Joliet planning staff said the development also began serving tenants not affiliated with JJC. According to the petitioner, it is currently occupied by a mix of JJC-affiliated tenants and non-JJC affiliated tenants.
The approval granted Tuesday formally allows people not affiliated with JJC to live in the apartments. Voting against the amendment were councilman Larry Hug, who represents District 1; and council members-at-large Juan Moreno and Jan Quillman,
Moreno at Monday’s pre-council meeting said he is concerned the current owner already rented out apartments to those who are neither student’s nor on staff at JJC.
But Dustin Anderson, director of community development for the City of Joliet, said the planned unit development ordinance simply tells the owners not to violate the statute. He said there is no penalty the city can institute except to tell the owner not to do it. For that reason, an amendment is requested, Anderson said.
Yolanda Farmer, Executive Vice President of Joliet Junior College, said JJC supports the amendment as there was an access easement maintenance agreement recently reached with Midwest REO over Richard T. Rivera Way. She said the new owners of Rock Run Residences will maintain the road.
“There is indeed a time for everything,” she said. “There was a time when this residential development was operated by our college. Since that time, housing has evolved as they often do.”
Farmer said JJC’s focus is protecting the faculty and the 45 students who live on the campus residences by not keeping the occupancy restriction on the apartments as the campus can now work with the city and the Joliet Police Department to make sure the development remains safe.
Attorney Andrew Scott, whose firm represents Midwest REO, said the amendment makes it official and authorizes his client to welcome non-JJC staff and students who want to live there.
“We want to do the right thing and everything is above board,” said Scott. “There is now transparency and we will continue to welcome students and faculty.”
In other city news, the council approved the City Managers authority to initiate recruitment and appointments prior to an employee’s separation which will allow for training and transition, thereby reducing disruption of work performed.
“The City Council further finds that authorizing the City Manager to appoint temporary workers for short-term operational needs will enhance flexibility and responsiveness in city operations,” according to the resolution. “Upon receipt of an eligible irrevocable written resignation or retirement notice from an employee, the City Manager may initiate recruitment, examination, and selection processes for the affected position.
“The City Manager may make an appointment to such position effective prior to the separation date for the purpose of training and transition, provided that funding is available in the fiscal year budget to fund the overlap period; the overlap period does not exceed 180 days unless approved by the City Council; and the appointment complies with applicable personnel policies,” the resolution stated.
The approval granted Tuesday follows a continuance requested by City Manager Beth Beatty at the last meeting after councilwoman-at-large Jan Quillman wanted further clarification about the resolution. Quillman on Tuesday voted for the resolution, while Hug and Suzanna Ibarra, representing District 5, voted against it.
