1994-06-01 - Plan Commission - Minutes REGULAR MEETING
BUFFALO GROVE PLAN COMMISSION
June 1, 1994
Proposed Funeral Home (Maioriello) on the Firnbach
Property, east side of Buffalo Grove Road south
of the Deerfield Bakery - Annexation with B-5 zoning
and approval of a Preliminary Plan -- Workshop #1
Chairman Silbernik 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 Silbernik
Mr. Krug
Mr. Rosenston
Mr. Samuels
Mr. Moons
Commissioners absent: Mr. Goldspiel
Mr. Rhodes
Ms. Howard
Mr. Berman
Also present: Mr. Anthony Maioriello, Grove Memorial
Chapel
Mrs. Terry Maioriello, Grove Memorial
Chapel
Mr. Robert Pfeil, Village Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Commissioner Rosenston, seconded by Commissioner Samuels
to approve the minutes of the public hearings and regular meeting
of May 18, 1994. Commissioner Moons suggested Mr. Cohen of
District 102 be referred to by both his first and last name as
there was a resident with the same name who also spoke. All
Commissioners were in favor of the amended motion and the motion
passed unanimously.
COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS - None
PROPOSED FUNERAL HOME (MAIORIELLO) ON THE FIRNBACH PROPERTY, EAST
SIDE OF BUFFALO GROVE ROAD SOUTH OF THE DEERFIELD BAKERY -
ANNEXATION WITH B-5 ZONING AND APPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY PLAN
WORKSHOP #1
Mr. Anthony Maioriello stated he is interested in building a
10, 000 square foot single story funeral home. He noted the plan
shows a single story building with a basement, however, they may
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 1
not want to go with a basement at all as the facility may be large
enough to handle all their services without such a basement.
However, the plans are still in the planning stage. He noted
their operation in Elk Grove Village is a three story operation.
The proposed plan would include four visitation rooms.
Mr. Maioriello stated the setbacks have not yet been designed as
they are still waiting for a complete topographical survey before
they can get together with civil engineers.
Commissioner Rosenston asked if the existing building would be
torn down.
Mr. Maioriello stated the existing building would be removed and
an entirely new building erected.
Commissioner Krug stated he liked the proposed plan for a funeral
home. He asked if there are any existing underground tanks.
Mr. Maioriello stated they have done an environmental study and
the only thing there is a surface tank containing fuel oil for the
boiler room on the existing property. He further noted the
building is presently being rented by the bakery for storage.
Commissioner Krug asked for an explanation of the retention pond.
Mr. Maioriello stated the Village Board had indicated a retention
pond would be best placed along the east boundary line. He
further stated that he felt this may work out best as it would be
very easy to pile snow in the retention pond.
Commissioner Krug noted that this would be a dry detention basin
not a retention pond. He also noted that normally parking is not
allowed at a detention area.
Mr. Maioriello stated that would be worked out once the
engineering takes place.
Commissioner Krug asked if the easement on the north would be
strictly an easement or a driveway into the proposed facility.
Mr. Maioriello stated this is an easement mainly.
Mr. Pfeil stated that when the Deerfield Bakery was planned there
was some discussion regarding the overall access plan for the
areas south of the bakery. Since there were so many unknowns, the
access was put there thinking it would be continued almost to the
point where a road or driveway could align with Church Road
ultimately. This may not be practical but the idea was to try to
consolidate the access points taken to Buffalo Grove Road by
internal access road in linked parking lots. The Village Board
was not enthusiastic about an open link between the funeral parlor
lot and the bakery. There probably should be an easement on the
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 2
funeral home property and be able to ultimately access it if
needed.
Commissioner Krug stated there was some thought to shared parking
between the funeral home and the bakery.
Mr. Pfeil stated the bakery does not really want a lot of funeral
directed traffic going through the bakery lot but shared parking
is a possibility.
Chairman Silbernik stated that given this particular use, the
bakery would not want such an access but the easement should be
reserved for the future.
Commissioner Krug asked if the proposed driveway is far enough
away from Checker.
Mr. Pfeil stated that it is now a driveway serving residential
properties and Lake County would have to issue a permit for an
expanded or new driveway connection and this is as far south as
Mr. Maioriello could get on his property. The driveway is now an
easement for the homes back in that area.
Commissioner Krug stated the zoning issue can be worked out by
amending the B-5 District.
Commissioner Rosenston stated the ordinance should probably be
changed to permit funeral homes.
Commissioner Krug stated the size of the detention area needs to
be worked out with staff to be sure the overflow will not flood
the driveway.
Commissioner Rosenston stated he likes the detention basin in the
center to facilitate easier snow removal and storage.
Commissioner Rosenston stated the driveway should be a full access
driveway.
Mr. Pfeil stated this will be a full access driveway and a decel
lane will probably be built into the Deerfield Bakery property
and a little of this property.
Commissioner Rosenston asked if anything needs to happen on
Buffalo Grove Road for left turns to get into the proposed
facility.
Mr. Pfeil stated there is a mountable median there now and the
road is already wide enough so that probably only striping and
modification of the median will be necessary.
Commissioner Rosenston asked if there would be embalming done on
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 3
the site
Mr. Maioriello stated there would be embalming.
Commissioner Rosenston asked if there would be any semi-truck
deliveries.
Mr. Maioriello stated there are truck deliveries about two to
three times per week.
Commissioner Rosenston asked how many funerals would be conducted
at this facility.
Mr. Maioriello stated there would be approximately one or two
funerals per week.
Commissioner Rosenston asked if there is anyone in the building
around the clock.
Mr. Maioriello stated there would not be someone in the building
around the clock, although there are times they need to go into
the building in the middle of the night.
Commissioner Samuels asked if merchandise would be sold in
addition to funeral services.
Mr. Maioriello stated they do sell the various merchandise which
is all part of the services offered. He stated one of the chapels
would be used as a casket display room.
Commissioner Samuels asked if the merchandise sold generates sales
tax.
Mr. Maioriello stated the merchandise does generate sales tax.
Commissioner Samuels asked how traffic is routed for funeral
processions.
Mr. Maioriello stated there are two entrances to the building.
Cars are lined up three abreast in a straight line. The lot will
hold 60 cars that way. The cars then proceed through the canopy
and if going north, the staff stops the right lane of traffic. If
going south, staff stops both lanes of traffic and goes out
through the intersection and then stops the left hand lane of the
southbound traffic. If going to St. Mary's Church, both lanes of
traffic would have to be stopped. He noted it takes only one and
one half minutes to move 60 cars through a four lane street.
Mrs. Maioriello stated it takes place very quickly because all the
cars are already lined up and the cars pull out one after another
directly once traffic has been stopped.
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 4
Commissioner Samuels asked which cemeteries are serviced by the
Funeral Home.
Mr. Maioriello stated Randhill, Memory Gardens, St. Michaels and
All Saints are the cemeteries used as well as some western
suburban cemeteries.
Commissioner Samuels asked what the earliest and latest
processions would be.
Mr. Maioriello stated the earliest procession would be
approximately 9:30 a.m. and the latest would be approximately 2:00
�..�
p.m. which is out of peak hour traffic. He further noted the
heaviest hour for visitation is around 7:00 p.m. and closing time
is generally 9:00 p.m.
Commissioner Samuels asked if there was any intention of
installing a crematorium.
Mr. Maioriello stated he would like to have a crematorium in the
garage area which would be in the back of the building. He noted
that you cannot hear, see or smell anything with modern
technology.
Commissioner Samuels stated that he would like more information
from the petitioner concerning the crematorium, including
operational features and any impacts that may affect adjacent
properties.
Mr. Maioriello indicated that he would be prepared to provide
complete information about the crematorium at the next workshop.
He commented that the technology for crematoria is now environ-
mentally sound because a very high temperature is used, and no
external emissions are created.
Commissioner Samuels noted it would not be a good idea to open the
access road to the bakery given this particular use but agreed the
drive should be reserved for future use.
Commissioner Moons asked if the proposed driveway and St. Mary's
driveway would be aligned.
Mr. Maioriello stated the church driveway is approximately 1,000
feet south of the proposed driveway.
Commissioner Moons asked if this entire plan may yet have to be
changed once a topographical survey is supplied and a drainage
problem appears.
Mr. Maioriello stated the property is flat and there is a three
foot rise in the front and the property is approximately one foot
higher than the bakery. He further noted that they may have to
excavate a couple of feet off the top of the lot just to create a
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 5
parking lot.
Commissioner Moons stated the lot line buffers to the east and
south are at a minimum.
Mr. Maioriello stated the homes abut right up against the lot line
on one side and the other side has been encroached upon by the
residents. In any case the roadway is substantial and the parking
is away from the lot line, so in fact a buffer to the homes will
be provided.
Chairman Silbernik asked for an explanation on Mr. Pfeil's comment
regarding the right-of-way dedication along Buffalo Grove Road for
a right turn lane.
Mr. Maioriello noted a small section on the north which is to be
brought down approximately 50 feet which will not cause any
problems for them.
Chairman Silbernik asked how many cars comprise the average
funeral.
Mr. Maioriello stated approximately 20 to 25 cars are in the
average funeral. Tops would be approximately 100 and could be
handled easily. He noted that in the case of a large procession
they usually notify the police and ask for their criteria.
Chairman Silbernik noted it would be a good idea to get the Police
Department's feedback.
Commissioner Rosenston asked how long Mr. Maioriello has been in
business.
Mr. Maioriello stated he has been in business for 18 years.
Commissioner Samuels asked if all vehicles would be stored in the
garage, if one is planned.
Mr. Maioriello stated they would so be parked.
Mr. Maioriello asked if there was any flagpole height restriction
as they are proposing a 30 foot pole.
Chairman Silbernik noted the Appearance Commission would advise
him of those requirements. He further noted that it may be a good
idea to start looking into signage and positioning of such signage
to show how it fits into the plan.
Chairman Silbernik stated he would like to get staff
recommendation for an amendment to the B-5 zoning to include a
funeral home.
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 6
Mr. Pfeil stated it would be best to regulate a funeral as a
special use in the B-5 District.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - None
FUTURE AGENDA SCHEDULE
Mr. Pfeil said a meeting is scheduled for June 15, 1994.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS - None
Li
STAFF REPORT
Mr. Pfeil stated discussions have begun on the Wisconsin Central
depot. He further reminded the Commission that the coin operated
amusement devices issue has been referred to the Commission for
consideration and it might be a good idea to begin to think about
the regulation for those kind of devices.
Chairman Silbernik stated the percent of square footage allotted
to coin operated devices could be used as a standard.
NEW BUSINESS - None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Rosenston, seconded by Commissioner Krug and
carried unanimously to adjourn. Chairman Silbernik adjourned the
meeting at 8:30 p.m.
R ectfull ubmitted,
Fay Ru in, Recording Secretary
APPRO
MARTI SILBERNIK, Chairman
Buffalo Grove Plan Comm-Regular Meeting-June 1, 1994-Page 7
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