Long Grove Plan Commission

Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2003

 

 

Commissioners present: Camy Gould, Robert Jenkins, Fred Phillips, Joseph Di Iorio, Michael Dvorak, Nicholas Fasano, and Ed Acuna

 

Commissioners Absent: Lisa Phillips

 

Also Present: Village Manager David Lothspeich, Village Superintendent Robert Block, and Planner Lane Kendig and Laurel Karolczak

 

1.             CALL TO ORDER

 

Commissioner Fasano moved, seconded by Commissioner Gould that Commissioner Fred Phillips be appointed Chair Pro-tem for this meeting.  Ayes: All, Nays, None, motion carried.  Chair Pro-Tem Phillips requested a motion to appoint Laurel Karolczak as Secretary Pro-tem for this meeting.  Commissioner Gould so motioned, Commissioner Dvorak seconded.  Ayes, all. Nays none, motion carried.

 

Chair Pro-tem Phillips called the meeting to order at 8:01 p.m.

 

2.             MINUTES OF April 1, 2003

 

Approval of April 1, 2003 minutes was postponed.  Commissioner  ??  motioned, Commissioner Acuna seconded.  Ayes, all.  Nays, none, motion carried.

 

 

3.             Continued Public Hearing for the Consideration of a Request for a Special Use Permit, Text Amendment and And/Or Additional Relief Necessary And/Or Appropriate Under The Zoning Code To Install a Second Cellular Monopole and Related Equipment on the Christ’s Church Property, Located at 5105 Arlington Heights Road, Submitted by Voice Stream Wireless.  Public Hearing Date of February 4, 2003 set during the December 3, 2002 meeting.

 

Noting that the Petitioner had requested a continuation to allow more time to prepare the information required by the Commission during the last two previous meetings, and Petitioner was not present, Commissioner ?? motioned to postpone request a third and last time, Commissioner  ?? seconded.  Ayes, all.  Nays, none, motion carried.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                       

4.             Continued Public Hearing to Consider the Request to Subdivide an Existing 4.74 Acre Lot Into Two (2) Lots (Lot #1 = 2.74 Acres and Lot #2  = 2 Acres), Located at 1841 Schaeffer Road, Submitted by James and Jeri Monroe.  Referred to the Commission From the February 25, 2003 Board of Trustees Meeting.  Public Hearing Set During the March 4, 2003 Meeting.

               

Petitioner, Holly Collins was present.  Updated plans of proposed Lot #2 at 1841 Schaeffer Road were provided to the Commission by Tracy ?? of CRI Engineering.  Revised plans included zoning data for existing house, tree preservation plans, and lot calculations.  Questions from the Commission included the plans for the existing sheds (A) one would be moved within setbacks and the other removed. (Q) regarding the width of driveway A) 16 feet as provided by the Code and would need approval by the fire protection district.

 

Following discussion on tree line on neighbor's property Village Planner Kendig stated that those trees were the neighbor's responsibility. 

 

Village Manager Lothspeich outlined specifics that the driveway location would need to be finalized with the fire protection district; the tree preservation would require a minimum of ten trees be transplanted on the south line; SWALCO approval required; and the unnecessary propane tank be removed.

 

Chair Pro-tem F. Phillips asked for further comments, and Commissioner Gould questioned the access from Remington Road with respect  to the Brookstone Subdivision.  Petitioner Collins explained that the house had been repositioned to make an access from Remington a possibility, when the lawsuit that Remington Homes is involved in is finally settled, and the easement was opened.  In the meantime, they did not want access to hold up their ability to begin building. 

 

Chair Pro-tem F. Phillips asked for a motion to recommend approval of the subdivision of existing 4.74 acre lot into two (2) lots (Lot #1 - 2.74 acres and Lot #2 - 2 acres) to the Village Board for consideration at the May 13, 2003 meeting, subject to terms.  Commissioner Gould motioned, Commissioner DiIorio seconded.  Ayes, all.  Nays, none.  Motion carried.

 

5.             Public Hearing for the Consideration of the Following Requests for the Mill Pond Shoppe’s in Long Grove (Currently the Pond View Inn Restaurant): (1) Text Amendment to Allow Businesses in the B-1 Historic Business District to Exceed 5,000 Square Feet as Permitted Special Uses; (2) Special Use to Expand the Existing Restaurant by 690 Square Feet to the North, with the Resulting Total Square Footage of the Building Exceeding 5,000 Square Feet; (3) Special Use for the Addition of a 190 Square Foot Deck on the West Side of Building (Adjacent to the Existing Covered Walkway); (4) Special Use to Allow an 90 Square Foot Cooler to the East of the Existing Building; and (5) Special Use for Outdoor Dining on the Existing Covered Walkway and Proposed Deck, Located at 235 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Submitted by Miriam and Sherman Gerber.  Referred to the Commission From the February 25, 2003 Board of Trustees Meeting.  Public Hearing Set During the March 4, 2003 Meeting.

 

                Petitioners Sherman and Miriam Gerber were present.  Village Manager Lothspeich administered oath to persons in audience wishing to be heard during public hearing.

 

                Mr. Gerber provided a visual presentation of the plans for the new Long Grove Cafe, which is replacing the Pond View Inn Restaurant.  His plans included landscape and lighting proposals.   Discussion followed pertaining to parking onsite as well as offsite; landscape renovations, lighting standards and any intrusion on residents on other side of the pond; restrooms facilities, as well as noise levels from proposed outdoor dining deck. 

 

                Following the discussion of the separate issue of the special use request to exceed the 5,000 total square footage ordinance, Chair Pro-tem Phillips asked the members of the Architectural Review Board who were present for their input.  John Staub, Chair of the Architectural Review Board, mentioned concerns about the lighting in the parking lot being enough for safety without any wasted light.  Mr. Gerber assured him that they were extremely sensitive to this issue and that the foot candles were .5 which was a very low level, which was safe and not obtrusive as well as having the ability to block light to the North.  More discussion followed on foot candles.

 

                Chair Pro-tem then opened the public hearing to the audience.  The following residents spoke:

 

                George St. John, 3137 RFD had concerns about disturbance from conversation on the proposed deck during dining hours.  He also didn't feel the natural barrier of trees provided his home the privacy that they appear to from the Mill Pond's side of the water.  He also expressed concern for the increased traffic in the downtown area and whether wells would be affected by the increased restaurant usage.

 

                Tom Patten, 4101 Robert Parker Coffin Rd., expressed concerns over the garbage receptacles being moved from the west side of the building to the east side and the early morning noise that the waste haulers make when making pick ups.  He also questioned why this issue was being handled as an amendment and not a variance to the Code.

 

                Village Manager Lothspeich explained that the Code does not allow for a variance, and that a text amendment special use gave more control than a variance as well as allowing the Plan Commission to revoke the special use if limitations are violated. 

 

                Roger Gobel, 4139 RFD, expressed concerns about the change in zoning for enhancement rather than hardship.  He feels property values will be affected.  He also expressed concern over intense land usage.

 

                Mr. Gerber assured Mr. Gobel that the land coverage plans, which do not include the pond, allow 15,343 sq. ft. and their actual usage is 10,240 sq. ft..   The green area is allowed 13,115 sq. ft. and they are using 10,228 sq. ft. which is all well within the Code for B1 area.

 

Mel Towner, 209 Robert Parker Coffin Rd., said that he feels as a neighbor of the Mill Pond, he understands the concerns but if all limitations are met, the Long Grove Cafe lights are fine.  He likened them to the Long Grove Fire Department's lights.

 

Chair Pro-tem Phillips asked for more comments, there being none, the Commission discussed the disruption that having 32 people on the deck in the evening might cause and providing a 9:00 p.m. cap on usage of the deck and possibly restricting outdoor dining to the lunch hour only.  A suggestion that a natural sound barrier, like a water fountain in the pond, might cover the conversation on the deck.   Mr. Gerber although hesitant to agreeing to outdoor dining at lunch only, again assured the Commission that he is very sensitive to these concerns and is willing to work with his neighbors to accommodate their concerns.  Mr. Gerber stated that he will review the plans with the restaurant owners to try to address the neighbors' concerns and will come back to the Commission with modifications as well as more detailed landscaping drawings.

 

Chair Pro-tem Phillips asked for a motion to continue the public hearing to June 3 Plan Commission meeting, Commissioner Fasano so moved, Commissioner Acuna seconded.  Ayes, all.  Nays none, motion carried.

 

Chair Pro-tem Phillips closed the public hearing.

 

6.             Continued Consideration of a Request to Set Public Hearing For an Amendment to Planned Unit Development Ordinance 93-O-03 for an Addition to The Existing Arlington Rehabilitation Center Building to Expand Their Existing Use and a New Second Building For a Day Care Center as a New Use, Located at 1666 Checker Road, Submitted by Jimmy Mann.  Referred to the Commission From the January 28, 2003 Board of Trustees Meeting.  For Continuation Until the June 9, 2003 Meeting at the Request of the Petitioner.

 

                Petitioners from the Arlington Rehabilitation Center were not present. Chair Pro-tem Phillips mentioned an invitation he received to an open house at the Arlington on Thursday, May 22 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. where the plans for this expansion will be shown to the public.  He suggested the Commission attend this open house before considering this request further.   Chair Pro-tem Phillips asked for a motion to postpone the request to the June 3, 2003 meeting of the Plan Commission.  Commissioner Gould so moved, Commissioner Acuna seconded.  Ayes, all.  Nays, none, motion carried.

 

7.             Consideration of a Request to Set Public Hearing for Amendment(s) to The Existing Planned Unit Development and/or Special Use Ordinance for a 720 Sq. Ft. Addition to the North Side of the Existing Church Located at 1660 Checker, Submitted by Hope Lutheran Church.

 

                Petitioner Rod Beadle, Board Trustee from Hope Lutheran Church was present.  Mr. Beadle explained the addition was necessary for storage of supplies for their Montessori School and Sunday School as well as the third service's musical instruments.  The proposed 2 -story addition would be on the North side of the building with matching architecture and windows with a bricked-in cross.  Discussion of the church's history and explanation of original plans, as well as future plans were discussed.  Mr. Beadle was asked to return for a continuance with more detailed drawings that show impervious areas.

 

                Chair Pro-tem Phillips asked for a motion to move request to a public hearing at the June 3, 2003 Plan Commission hearing.  Commissioner ?? motioned, Commissioner Acuna seconded.  Ayes, all.  Nays, none, motion carried.

 

8.             Consideration of a Request to Set Public Hearing for Amendment(s) to The Existing Planned Unit Development Ordinance For Permission to Utilize a Portion of the Basement for a Banquet Room for the Gridley’s of Long Grove Restaurant Located at 4868 Route 83, Submitted by George Callas.

 

                Petitioner George Callas of Gridley's of Long Grove Restaurant was present.  Discussion of proposed banquet facility centered on the need for 24 more parking spaces to accommodate banquet facilities on a footprint that is at maximum, the actual and useable square footage, and the look of the corridor.  Mr. Callas stressed that the banquet facility was an important factor in his success.  The Commission expressed their support of a successful restaurant, but also expressed concern that the proposed banquet facilities had not been part of the original proposal and strong opposition to utilizing the IDOT R.O.W. along Gilmer Road for the additional parking required by the increased usage.  Commissioner Gould motioned that the request be brought to public hearing at the Commission's June 3 meeting, seconded by Commissioner DiIorio.  Ayes, all.  Nays, none, motion carried.

 

9.             Planner's Report - no report

 

10.          New Business  – Next Special Meeting -   Tuesday, May 20, 2003 at 8:00 p.m.

                                                Next Regular Meeting - Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at 8:00 p.m.

 

11.          Adjournment

 

                                    Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Acuna, seconded by Commissioner Dvorak.

 

                Meeting adjourned at 11:45 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted by,

 

Laurel Karolczak

Secretary Pro-tem