Despite opposition from some residents, a place where people once worshipped will soon become a location for breakfast or lunch in Plainfield.
The Plainfield Village Board Monday amended the zoning map from low-density single-family residential district to a business transition district to accommodate applicant Sal Zeciri’s request to convert the vacant Sharon United Methodist Church, 23913 W. Lockport St., into a restaurant.
If the structure hadn’t closed earlier this year, in 2025 parishioners would have celebrated the churches 170th anniversary in downtown Plainfield.
Because of an aging population, the COVID pandemic, causing in-person services to stop, church officials made the decision to shutter the historic church and merge the small congregation with Hope United Methodist Church in Joliet.
The village board approved a special use permit, which made it possible for a new breakfast /lunch restaurant to open inside the old structure.
Rachel Riemenschneider, an Associate Planner for the village, in a report to the board regarding the eatary, said stipulations state that the restaurant cannot open or accept deliveries earlier than 7 a.m. every day. The approval also comes with a clause the restaurant will have to close by 3 p.m. every day and no deliveries after that time because the business is in a residential area. Additionally, outdoor dining will be prohibited.
Riemenschneider said 19 residents attended a Plainfield Plan Commission meeting in May to oppose the project. Only a few people spoke up in favor of the project at the meeting, The commission is an advisory board that gives recommendations to the village board on various residential and commercial development proposals.
Currently, the 1.1-acre on Lockport Street has a church, an old school, a single-family home, and a small garage on the land. The proposed development involves keeping all four buildings and creating a separate parcel for the home the church as a restaurant, and the school, which was built in 1958 will be turned into a small office building.
Carolyn Dement a resident, who has lived on Ottawa Street near the proposed project for close to 50 years with her husband, Jeff, said her worry is a liquor license could be issued at a later date for the restaurant.
“It is right in the middle of our neighborhood,” said Dement. “This seems to be spot zoning.”
Because Plainfield Academy is across the street from the church at the northeast corner of Route 59 and Lockport Street, Dement said parking is often at a premium in the neighborhood.
“The traffic is out of control over there,” she added. “To add something like this does not enhance our neighborhood or quality of life.”
Kelsey Ballard, a lifelong Plainfield resident who lives behind the vacant church, urged the village board to see the perspective of residents.
“Turning the church into a restaurant would be a horrible outcome,” she said. “We live in a small area of historic homes. This is not a right location for this kind of establishment.”
But Linda Ledford said she would like the church building to be preserved.
“It is not just a building, but a historic spot in Plainfield,” said Ledford, adding the decision to start North Central College in Naperville was made in the church basement. “I do not want to see this corner turning into nothing but a piece of land.”
Village trustee Patricia Kalkanis agreed a restaurant is the best use for the church building and the long-term development of Plainfield.
“Anywhere in Plainfield is very bad traffic,” she said. “It is just not in your area.”
Kalkanis said she does not believe the restaurant would further add to traffic woes in the area as there is a parking lot in the church parcel.
“At the end of the day, it could be a great addition to our town,” she said.
Trustee Tom Ruane, who was the only person on the board to vote against the proposal, said he sees missed opportunities to reuse the building.
“This isn’t an improvement to the neighborhood. It is a detriment,” Ruane said.
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