2024-01-03 - Planning and Zoning Commission - Minutes 01/3/2024
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OF THE
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 50 RAUPP BOULEVARD,
BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Chair Mitchell Weinstein
Public Hearings/Items For Consideration
1. Consider a Special Use for a Supermarket and Food Store in the B-5: Town Center
Planned District at 21 Buffalo Grove Road (Trustee Weidenfeld) (Staff Contact: Andrew
Binder)
Petitioners were sworn in.
Binder,Associate Planner, provided a background on the subject property and the
request.
Barry Millman, Horizon Realty Services, thanked the village for their efforts in helping to
move the project forward. He indicated that the new tenant does have experience
operating a grocery store in other locations.
Com.Au asked if the proposed/old use is a grocery store that prepares fresh food.
Rakesh Pandito, the Petitioner, indicated that he has ten years'experience in business
with similar concepts. He clarified that the prepared foods will be prepared by a
professional chef; variety of options to choose from; authentic cooking methods.
Com.Au asked if the previous business was solely a grocery store.
Binder confirmed.
Com.Au asked if the food will be pre-made or made to order.
Pandito confirmed the food will be pre-made.
Com. Moodhe asked if all other grocery stores in the village would be considered a
grocery store classification if they provide pre-made foods.
Binder confirmed.
Com. Moodhe asked if they had enough space to do what they wanted to do and if the
meals will be for individuals or for families.
Pandito confirmed there will be enough space and the meals will be individually sized.
Chairperson Weinstein asked if the previous business failed, or did the owner retire.
Millman confirmed that the previous business owner retired.
The public hearing closed at 7:46 PM.
Com. Moodhe made a motion to make positive recommendation to the Village Board to
allow a Special Use for a Supermarket and Food Store in the B-5: Town Center Planned
District at 21 Buffalo Grove Road, subject to the following conditions:
1. The Supermarket and Food store shall be operated in substantial compliance with the
01/3/2024
business description and plans provided as part of this petition.
2. The Special Use is granted to MLA Associates, LLC. to operate a Supermarket and Food
Store at 21 N Buffalo Grove Road, which shall not run with the land.
3. The Special Use granted to the MLA Associates, LLC. is assignable to subsequent
petitioners seeking assignment of this special use os follows:
a. Upon application of a petitioner seeking assignment of this Special Use, the Corporate
Authorities, in their sole discretion, may refer said application of assignment to the
appropriate commission(s) for a public hearing or may hold a public hearing at the
Village Board.
b. Such assignment shall be valid only upon the adoption of a proper, valid and binding
ordinance by the Corporate Authorities granting said assignment, which may be granted
or denied for any reason.
Com. Davis seconded the motion.
Com. Moodhe spoke in favor of the motion and indicated that Buffalo Grove is 4`"largest
population of Indian residents in the Chicagoland area. This is a good use for the
property.
RESULT: RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Moodhe, Spunt, Weinstein, Au, Davis
ABSENT: Kevin Richards, Neil Worlikar, Sujat Saxena
2. Consider an Amendment to the Sign Plan Approved by Planned Unit Development
Ordinance No. 2022-092 Along with Sign Variations to Allow the Installation of a Wall
Sign on the East Elevation of the Building at 43 McHenry Road (Trustee Weidenfeld)
(Staff Contact: Andrew Binder)
The petitioners were sworn in.
Binder,Associate Planner, provided an overview of the petitioner's request including an
amendment to the PUD, approved sign plan, and sign variations.
David Mikel,spoke on behalf of the property owner and on behalf of Veterinary
Emergency Group (VEG) through Site Enhancement Services. He indicated with the
amount of visibility that the building has, they felt that a sign on the east elevation
would be helpful for wayfinding, especially at nighttime. He said the east elevation does
have great visibility from Lake Cook Road and the proposed signage looks consistent with
other signage on the building.
Com. Spunt stated that he drove past it the other day and all he could see was a brick
wall. Com. Spunt believes that it will help with wayfinding. He asked if the clinic is open
24 hours.
Mikel confirmed.
Com.Au asked if there is a monument sign.
Binder confirmed and showed the location on the property.
01/3/2024
Com Au asked why the petitioner is making the request now and thought the purpose of
the monument sign was to achieve visibility from Lake Cook Road.
Mikel stated the new sign will help navigate customers to the location if they are
traveling westbound on Lake Cook Road.
Com.Au asked if the 3rd sign was permitted, does it meet the other code requirements.
And why does the sign need to be the size proposed.
Mikel provided an explanation regarding the visibility of the east elevation vs the main
entrance sign.
Binder reviewed the requested variations and indicated that the main entrance sign is
very small. He confirmed that the total of all 3 signs does not exceed the square footage
permitted for the tenant space.
Com Davis asked why the sign proposed on the east side of the building is larger than the
north side.
Com Mikel stated that the wayfinding to make the building look better and the corporate
standards of VEG. He continued that the new signage is an effort to help people to be
able to identify where the business is located within the building.
Com. Moodhe asked If the sign is granted approval, would this affect the Wild Fork's
signage.
Binder stated no.
The public hearing was closed at 8:05 pm.
Com. Moodhe made a motion to make a positive recommendation to the Village Board
to allow an amendment to the sign plan approved by Planned Unit Development
Ordinance No. 2022-092 and Sign Variations to allow the installation of a wall sign on
the east elevation of the building at 43 McHenry Road, subject to the following
conditions:
1. The proposed project shall be developed in substantial conformance with the plans
attached as part of the petition.
Com. Davis seconded the motion.
Com. Spunt spoke in favor of the motion noting the sign is for an emergency veterinarian
and will help people who are experiencing an emergency to find the location better.
Chairman Moodhe spoke in favor of the motion and indicated that NCH has 6-7 signs and
the proposed sign will be helpful when people are stressed out regarding pet health.
Com. Davis stated that he drove through the parking lot and thinks the sign makes a lot
of sense.
Com.Au indicated that the sign looks a little big for the wall it is on but stated that
maybe it is because she is used to looking at smaller signs.
Chairperson Weinstein noted that the Wild Fork had a lot of proposed signage and the
new sign makes sense for the location. He continued that he welcomes VEG into the
Village, as the Village recently lost a veterinary clinic.
01/3/2024
RESULT: RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Moodhe, Spunt, Weinstein, Au, Davis
ABSENT: Kevin Richards, Neil Worlikar, Sujat Saxena
Regular Meeting
Other Matters for Discussion
Approval of Minutes
1. Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting- Dec 6, 2023 7:30 PM
RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Moodhe, Spunt, Weinstein, Au, Davis
ABSENT: Kevin Richards, Neil Worlikar, Sujat Saxena
Chairman's Report
None
Committee and Liaison Reports
Committee Liaison provided an update on the last Village Board Meeting.
Staff Report/Future Agenda Schedule
Staff provided information on the future agenda schedule.
Public Comments and Questions
None
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 AM
Kelly Purvis
APPROVED BY ME THIS 3rd DAY OF January , 2024
Mitchell Weinstein, Commissioner