Long Grove Plan Commission

Meeting Minutes

May 7th, 2002

 

 

 

Present: Commissioners Di Iorio, Gould, L. Phillips, and Walter, Village Manager Chen, and Planner Kendig.

 

Absent: Commissioners Jenkins and F. Phillips

 

Commissioner Borawski moved that Commissioner Walter be made Chairman pro-tem for this meeting. Commissioner L. Phillips seconded the motion.

Ayes all.

Motion carried.

 

I.  PUBLIC HEARING

     

Public Hearing called to order at 8:03 PM.

 

A.                  Vision United Methodist Church

 

Chairman Walter swore in members of the audience who wished to speak.

 

Mr. Kenneth Shepro stated that the Vision Church complies with all existing ordinances and should be granted a special use.

 

The following audience members asked questions and/or made comments (Please excuse misspelled names)

 

Mike Yoshimura                   6527 RFD

Susan Kline                           3632 RFD

Cindy Abers                         4536 RFD

Glen Provisor                        6748 RFD

Louis Bergman                     5362 RFD

Lisa Nora                               4534 RFD

Tony Dean                            3204 RFD

Dave Bendoff                       4552 RFD

Al Salvi                                  4612 RFD

Renee Clark                           5655 RFD

John Georg                            4608 RFD

Jim Southwell                        6323 RFD

Susan Melcher

Susan Placent                       6231 RFD

Nick Nasanon                       231 RFD

Jim Palowick                          4625 RFD

Marcia Marshal                    4512 RFD

Don Serpico                          4606 RFD

Joe Valenti                             Northfield Illinois

Mike Precauseky                 4610 RFD

David Kapov                        4501 RFD

Greg Kanes                           6325 RFD

Janet R…                               6327 RFD

Dee McLaughlin                 4560 RFD

Karen Grams                         4624 RFD

Dave Bendoff                       4552 RFD

 

 

The gist of their questions and comments are as follows: (detailed transcripts were made by court reporter)

 

  1. The sizes of the proposed structures are too large.
  2. The uses and hours of operation of the facility are not clearly defined.
  3. Traffic, number of parking spaces, and potential use of the school parking lot are concerns.
  4. There was general confusion as to why such a large facility was necessary when the petitioner has stated that the current congregation size is small, growth is slow, and there is no intention of taking members from other existing churches.
  5. There is concern about the ability of the site to meet the water and septic requirements of the proposed maximum number of people that can fill the space.
  6. There is concern about perceived inconsistency in the plans presented by the petitioner on separate occasions as well as the perceived lack of detail.
  7. There were questions regarding whether this facility as proposed qualified as a special use.
  8. There was concern about what would happen to the facility if the church was not able to financially continue to operate it.
  9. There was a concern that a church of this size was going to cause a considerable tax burden to the community while not servicing a significant portion of the community residents.
  10. There were general comments that the nature of Long Grove and the reason many neighbors moved to this area would be compromised by this facility since it was so clearly not in keeping with Long Grove’s rural nature.

 

Marcia Marshal made a presentation on her perception of the impact of the proposed facility.

In summary she felt that the proposed petition was:

 

Letter accepted into record Sept 11 2001 from Lake County Division of Transportation.

May 2nd 2002 signed letter also submitted.

 

10:12 PM Public Hearing closed

 

II.                   MEETING GAVELED TO ORDER

 

Meeting gaveled to order at 10:12PM

 

III. OLD BUSINESS

 

A.      United Methodist Vision Church

 

Commissioner Di Iorio

Reservations – Activity, parking spaces, no conservancy proposals, not clear on special events.

 

Chairman Walter

Wouldn’t want anything that dense here.

 

Commissioner Borawski

Would prefer residential.  Concerned about financial viability, accessory uses, and lack of details in petition.

 

Commissioner L. Phillips

Would like to see residential.  Would like a win win but we believes we are far apart.  Would like to see a rework of plan that would be a good neighbor, listening to petitioners, audience, code, and comprehensive plan.  Can’t say that this plan wouldn’t affect safety and property values negatively.  It’s a question of scale. Feels a responsibility to continue the Long Grove rural tradition.  Would like to see a better petition.

 

Commissioner Gould

Size and use of property are concerns.  Would like to see a new traffic study.  Buildout could see 1500 people on this site at a given time.  Shallow well or septic system may not accommodate this. Concerned about the visual impact on neighbors.  Would very much like all additional land to be unbuildable.

 

Motion to continue this topic at June 4th meeting made by Commissioner L. Phillips

Seconded by Commissioner Gould.

Ayes all.

Motion carried.

 

III. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner L. Phillips

Seconded by Commissioner Gould.

Ayes all.

Motion carried.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:33 PM

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Eduardo L. Acuna