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2003-12-17 - Plan Commission - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑ Plan Commission Document Type: 0 A e g nda 0 Minutes Meeting ate: 12/17/2003 Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting REGULAR MEETING BUFFALO GROVE PLAN COMMISSION December 17, 2003 Proposed Pump It Up facility, 1322 Barclay Boulevard, Special Use for a recreation use in the Industrial District—Workshop #1 Discussion of Plan Commission review of the Village Comprehensive Plan Chairman Ottenheimer called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Council Chambers, Buffalo Grove Municipal Building, 50 Raupp Boulevard, Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Commissioners present: Chairman Ottenheimer Mr. Samuels Mr. Smith Ms. Bocek Ms. Kenski-Sroka Mr. Teplinsky Mr. Stark Mr. Cohn Commissioners absent: Mr. Khan Also present: Mr. Lon Gitler Mr. Steve Trilling, Village Trustee Mr. Robert Pfeil, Village Planner Mr. Greg Summers, Associate Village Planner APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Commissioner Kenski-Sroka, seconded by Commissioner Teplinsky to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 19, 2003. All Commissioners were in favor of the motion and the motion passed unanimously. COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Commissioner Bocek stated she attended the Village Board meeting on December 15, 2003 which included a referral to the Plan Commission of the Gattone Sports Performance training facility in the Rogers Center on Barclay Boulevard in the Industrial District. The Board noted that the proposal is small in scale. The Board wants the Plan Commission to determine if it is necessary to handle smaller scale recreation uses as special uses, or if a more streamlined approval process should be used. PUMP IT UP FACILITY, 1322 BARCLAY BOULEVARD, SPECIAL USE FOR A RECREATION USE IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT—WORKSHOP#1 Mr. Lon Gitler stated he would like to introduce a new business opportunity he would like to bring to Buffalo Grove. He stated the company is fairly new. He noted there are many companies who rent inflatables for block parties and different things. However, this is one of the only party facilities that actually has an indoor facility for these types of things. The business involves reserving your party ahead of time. The company is based out of Pleasanton, California and there are approximately 7 or 8 facilities actually up and running with about 60 more to open within the next 6-9 months across the country. He stated this is a very unique business and people are looking for party places any time during the year. Mr. Gitler stated this would be a private party facility. The main party is called a classic party, which lasts for 2 hours. The first 1-'/z hours is spent in the actual arenas playing on the different inflatables. The next 30 minutes is spent in a different party room reserved for that particular group. They can actually bring in pizza or serve cake there. They will have no kitchen facility but will use vendors to set up pizza deliveries ahead of time for those groups who would like that. Mr. Gitler stated the target group customer is probably between the ages of 4-12 as well as a few teenagers. He stated his territory would be determined based on the selection of this business. The company would like to see approximately 50,000 kids under the age of 18 in the territory. If this location Buffalo Grove works out, they would incorporate a territory of Vernon Hills, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Northbrook and other surrounding suburbs to total up to 50,000 which will then be considered his territory. Mr. Gitler stated the Pump It Up franchise development team will be there to guide and support him through the whole process. Mr. Gitler stated the building is 15,000 square feet. He noted almost all the Pump It Up facilities look for light industrial areas because they need the high ceilings for the inflatables. There is 5,000 square feet of office space in the front part of the building which will be redesigned to encompass a large waiting area, rest rooms, office space, two party rooms and storage. The arenas will be in the larger 10,000 square foot portion in the back of the building. The large garage doors that are already there will help in backing up trucks, unloading equipment and so forth. It is also an easy draw as Buffalo Grove Gymnastics is two doors away. Mr. Gitler stated the parking seems to be the only questionable item about this location. There are currently 98 parking spots available that encompass the entire building. He further noted there would be 15 parking spaces given to him as well as 2 handicapped spaces. The next space also has about 15 spots available. Then the end of the block as well as all around in the back is unassigned. In total there are 98 parking spaces. He noted his business would operate the majority of time at night and weekends. The Okidata business next door is empty after business hours so their spots would be open for his parties. Buffalo Grove Gymnastics has the majority of their classes during the day and they do have a few night classes. Therefore he believes these two businesses can operate in that environment and co-exist together due to the criss-crossing schedules. Mr. Gitler stated the company has strict guidelines regarding safety. There is a safety video that every group watches upon entering the foyer area. The video tells you how to use each of the different inflatables. There is also signage around the whole building that reminds you of the proper procedures and there is also staff to monitor the arenas. Commissioner Stark asked if there would be no operations on Monday through Thursdays. Mr. Gitler stated no. However, 90 percent of the business will be nights and weekends. There will be after school parties, parent and me type classes in the mornings or possibly early afternoons. Commissioner Stark asked Mr. Gitler if he had any conversation with the people at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics. Mr. Gitler stated no. Commissioner Stark stated the main issue is parking. He noted that to find parking at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics is terrible with parking spilling over into the Kiefer parking spots. He stated parking is a real concern particularly on Saturdays and this would be a huge obstacle for any business going into that facility. Commissioner Bocek asked how many classes would be at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics at their peak hour and how many parking spaces are they using out of the 98 spaces. She also noted she had though the peak age for this new business was 2-6 year olds, which would seem to make night time parties questionable. Mr. Gitler stated he has been told the peak ages are 4-12 year olds according to other owners. There are some 2-year-old parties that take up some of the weekdays or early Saturday and Sunday mornings. The majority of the business is the older crowd on the weekends. One of the owners has stated he does lots of teenager parties and the 10 to 14 year olds tend to do the pizza parties at dinner time or after school. Peak times for parties would be Friday nights and Saturdays and Sundays. Commissioner Teplinsky asked if any facilities have failed. Mr. Gitler stated not to his knowledge. He noted he has questioned how often people will come back for parties, but they are always redesigning new inflatables, different types of things to play on and climb on and they will always try to keep it new and fresh. Commissioner Teplinsky noted that if parking is going to be a concern, it is something to be thought about in terms of starting a new business. Are there any other spaces available in that industrial area. Mr. Gitler stated part of this whole process is getting approval for the business itself. Secondly would be trying to find the right spot for it. He stated he might have to leave the Buffalo Grove area to find an industrial type building that will suit his needs. He would like to keep the business near his home, but he will have to do what is necessary if parking is not going to work. Commissioner Samuels stated he would have hoped the other tenant in the building tonight regarding the parking situation because he did not think another workshop would be needed. Chairman Ottenheimer asked if there would be any entrances made in the rear as there is parking back there. Mr. Gitler stated he would definitely make the appropriate changes to make the parking back there well lit and safe for the customers. He stated it will be part of his tenant improvements to create a sidewalk or walking path and make it well lit. However, the main entrance will remain at the front and the back will be only for emergency access. He further noted the front loading area currently used by the existing business could also be turned into 6-8 parallel parking spots if necessary. Chairman Ottenheimer asked if the franchise has given any information as to what age parties are drop offs as opposed to parents coming in with kids. This would be a parking issue. Mr. Gitler stated he has no specific data but will find out, Chairman Ottenheimer asked if there are any rough designs of the interior layout. Mr. Gitler stated he is still working on them. Chairman Ottenheimer noted it is probably ready for public hearing but it is important that Okimoto and Buffalo Grove Gymnastics have some knowledge of the public hearing. Chairman Otteheimer noted it might be helpful to have some pictures of other facilities. DISCUSSION OF PLAN COMMISSION REVIEW OF THE VILLAGE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Mr. Pfeil requested deferral of this matter. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT—None FUTURE AGENDA SCHEDULE Mr. Pfeil noted the next regularly scheduled meeting would be held on January 7, 2004. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS—None STAFF REPORT—None NEW BUSINESS—None ADJOURNMENT Moved by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Kenski-Sroka and carried unanimously to adjourn. Chairman Ottenheimer adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Fay Rubin, Recording Secretary APPROVED BY: LESTER OTTENHEIMER, Chair