Long Grove Plan Commission & Zoning Board of Appeals (PCZBA)

Meeting Minutes - October 6, 2009

Commissioners Present: Jeff Kazmer, Mike Dvorak, Joe DiIorio, Charles Cohn, Tobin Fraley, Shelly Rubin, Wendy Parr

Absent: Chairman Phillips

Chairman Pro-Tem: Jeff Kazmer

Also present: Village Planner James Hogue; Planning Commission Secretary Terri Taylor; and members of the public.

1. Due to the absence of Chairman Phillips, a Chairman Pro-Tem was needed for the meeting. Commissioner Parr made a motion to have Commissioner Kazmer act as Chairman Pro-Tem;
Commissioner Dvorak seconded the motion; on a voice vote all ayes.

2. Call to Order: Chairman Pro-Tem Kazmer called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Village Planner Hogue announced that there had been an issue with the legal notice for this meeting. The incorrect name and address of the property (Lemmon Hill instead of Gridley Ball Fields) had been used in the notice. Because of the error, Village Attorneys stated the public hearing could not take place. A corrected legal notice and republication would need to be submitted for the following PCZBA meeting in November.

Commissioners agreed that a general discussion could still take place because the petitioner and public members had come to this meeting. However, the public hearing would actually take place on November 3, 2009.

3. Discussion Item: General discussion of a request for a Special Use Permit and/or additional relief necessary and/or appropriate under the zoning code to allow the co-location of wireless communication antennas and related equipment facilities on property known as 9019 Oakwood Road (a.k.a. the Gridley Ball Field) and zoned under the OS-R zoning district classification and within a flood hazard area submitted by Tony Phillips on behalf of SAC Wireless.

Chairman Pro-Tem Kazmer read the request for discussion.

Village Planner Hogue provided a summary of the petitioner’s request to add an additional platform, antennas and equipment. The location is remote, but is in a flood hazard area. He said that would be the biggest area for any concern in his opinion.

Commissioner Parr asked about the original approval ordinance regarding the installation of this tower. Planner Hogue indicated that had not been able to locate an approval ordinance for this tower. The property was in the Village at the time the tower was constructed and the cell tower regulations were in effect however. General discussion took place regarding how to retrieve this information.

Tom Hartnet, SAC Wireless said he could check with Lake County to see if request had been done via the county.

Commissioner Cohn asked what was proposed to be located in the floodplain. Planner Hogue stated the equipment shed/platform would be located there. Hogue indicated there would be a minor encroachment into the floodplain per the proposal.

Commissioner DiIorio asked about structural papers that had not been made available prior to the meeting. He wondered if there should be any concern over lightning in this instance (he referred back to a previous petition that caused concern with homeowners). Mr. Hartnet responded that the pole is sufficiently grounded per the structural analysis.

Mr. Hartnet indicated that the request is intended to enhance service to customers and that it would be a relatively small addition to the pole.

Commissioner Cohn asked who was leasing the land to SAC Wireless. Planner Hogue answered, the Long Grove Park District. Hogue also stated that the Park District sent a letter of their letter of support with regard to the request to the Village.

Commissioner Rubin asked if anyone had raised concerns over the petition. Planner Hogue indicated there were none.

Lee Bassett, President, Long Grove Park District stated that they were happy with the current arrangement and structure and saw no issue with the petitioner’s request.

Commissioner Parr made a motion to consider the approval of the petitioners request until the next meeting on November 3, 2009; Commissioner Rubin seconded the motion; on a voice vote all ayes.

4. Approval of Minutes; May 5, 2009

Commissioner Parr made a motion to approve the May 5, 2009 meeting minutes as submitted; Commissioner Fraley seconded the motion; on a voice vote, all.

5. Other Business

Planner Hogue indicated another cell tower petition request would probably be coming to the PCZBA in the next month so there would be two public hearings in November.

6. Adjournment

Commissioner Cohn made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Commissioner Rubin. On a voice vote, all ayes; no nays. Meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

7. Next Regular meeting November 3, 2009, 7 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Terri Taylor

Terri Taylor; Secretary, Long Grove PCZBA