1991-07-25 - Appearance Commission - Minutes APPEARANCE COMMISSION
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS
THURSDAY, JULY 25 , 1991
I . CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Eddie Larsen called the meeting to order at 7 : 37 P.M. on
Thursday, July 25 , 1991 at the Village Hall , 50 Raupp Boulevard.
II . ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present : R. Gordon, F . Weissman, A. Viehman and
E. Larsen. Quorum Present .
Commissioners Absent : D. Ehrhardt and C. Bruno
Bldg . Dept . Liaison: James Kelly, Building Inspector
Village Board Liaison: John Marienthal , Trustee
III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
July 11 , 1991 - Page Three , Paragraph 8 - Ch. Larsen asked that
the last part of the first sentence be omitted .
It should read : "Ch. Larsen informed Mr . Rhodes
that the Appearance Commission prefers to have a
simple sign criteria document . "
Com. Weissman made a motion to approve the minutes of July 11 , 1991
as amended . Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
ABSTAIN - Gordon
Motion Passed - 3 to 0 , 1 abstention. Minutes of July 11 , 1991
approved and will be placed on file .
Minutes of June 27 , 1991 remain Tabled.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Grove Court - Revised Sign Criteria
Mr . David Rhodes , Property Manager of Brian Properties ,
2045 South Arlington Heights Road , Suite 100, Arlington
Heights , IL 60006 (640-1500) distributed revised copies
of the Grove Court Sign Regulations , dated July 24 , 1991 .
Several additional changes were discussed , especially #6 -
which would permit stores with a frontage of sixteen feet
( 16 ' ) or less to have signs that are only two feet less than
their store frontage . Mr . Rhodes said it would be a hardship
to require two feet on each side of a sign for a store with
only sixteen feet ( 16 ' ) of frontage .
There are eight (8) spaces in the center that have a frontage
of sixteen feet ( 16 ' ) and four (4) of these spaces are
occupied. Some of the frontages could be expanded to thirty-
two feet (32 ' ) . Only one of the four (4) occupied spaces
has a sign that does not have two feet (2 ' ) on each side of
the sign. It is Cajon Joe ' s and there are two empty sixteen
foot ( 16 ' ) stores on each side . Mr . Rhodes presented a chart
listing all the store frontages and length of existing signs .
Ch. Larsen commented that he saw a Cajon Joe ' s sign in
Arlington Heights and the letters could be made smaller
so that it would meet the twelve foot ( 12 ' ) length on the
sixteen foot ( 16 ' ) frontage .
Mr . Rhodes explained that the Cajon Joe ' s franchise has only
pre-approved three (3) sizes for the sign and fourteen feet
( 14 ' ) is the smallest size available.
Ch. Larsen cited the Arlington Heights side of Chase Plaza as
an example of several sixteen foot ( 16 ' ) stores with signs that
are too close together . The Appearance Commission has been
criticized for approving that signage .
Ch. Larsen suggested that the Cajon Joe ' s sign over store #777
be made an exception and if another tenant wants a fourteen
foot ( 14 ' ) sign, it could be submitted to the AC for review.
The first sentence of #6 was deleted and the exception was
included . All signs are to be centered vertically and
horizontally.
Two other changes were suggested :
#4 - should specify illuminated letters
#5 - six inch (6" ) descenders are permitted
and signs could have two lines if they
total two feet (2 ' ) in height
Mr . Rhodes agreed to the modifications .
Com. Gordon made a motion to recommend the Grove Court Sign
Regulations be approved as amended on the signed file copy.
Revised copy to be submitted to the Building Department .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman, Weissman, Gordon and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0.
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
July 25 , 1991 - Page Two
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor (Formerly Ritzy' s Cafe)
1180 Lake Cook Road - Trash Enclosure/Awning Color Change
1 . Trash Enclosure
Owners William Katsogianis and Harry Geotis were present .
Mr . Katzogianas said the Village Health Officer has requested a
changing room be provided for employees , so a new trash
enclosure will be constructed next to the existing one at the
rear of the building (to the north) . The arrow on the site
plan is incorrect .
Ch. Larsen questioned whether a roof is required for all trash
enclosures or were they only required when near a residential
area where people could look down upon them?
Mr . Kelly said he is not aware of any such requirement , but he
will verify this .
Com. Weissman asked if the wood slats would be diagonal .
Mr . Geotis said the wood slats would be vertical and will cover
both sides of the gates . They will be painted a rusty color to
match the building. The gates will be braced for strength.
Com. Gordon made a motion to recommend approval of the new
trash enclosure as submitted for the Buffalo Restaurant &
Ice Cream Parlor .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman, Weissman, Gordon and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0.
2 . New Awning Colors
Mr . Katsogianis said they want to replace the awnings . They
tried to clean the existing awnings and remove the Ritzy' s
signs but it cannot be done . They have chosen new colors :
#4513 - Teal , #3132 Peach and #4308 Wine with a black buffalo
head logo on the peach section (same location as the Ritzy' s) .
The material is Duracote manufactured by the Unitex Company .
Ch. Larsen informed the petitioners that the Building Depart-
ment will require the material to have UL, or equivalent , fire
rating . He suggested Prizmax as an alternate manufacturer .
The Commissioners had no questions or comments .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
July 25 , 1991 - Page Three
Com. Gordon made a motion to recommend approval of the new
awning colors with the black buffalo logo as submitted by
the Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor .
Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Gordon, Weissman , Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
B. Westchester Estates Phase 2 - Scarsdale Homes
Full Review: Elevations/Materials/Parkway Trees
Presentation was made by John Green, Systems Design Group, Ltd.
5999 New Wilke Road, Suite 208 , Rolling Meadows , IL 60008
(439-5800) . He described the site plan. Westchester Estates
Phase 2 will consist of 13 lots , zoned R - 3 , which are north
of and abutting Phase 1 and east of Buffalo Grove Road.
Thompson Boulevard will be extended to complete the inter-
section. A small cul-de-sac is located off Thompson Blvd.
There will be a 1 . 8 acre retention lake at the north end of the
site that will be dedicated to the Village .
At the eastern side of the site are 3 . 4 acres that will be
dedicated to the Park District and will be joined with the
existing 2 . 5 acres that has already been dedicated to the Park
District . There is some open land to the west that the Park
District may acquire someday to enlarge the park .
The existing bike path through The Old Farm Village will be
extended to the east , across the Buffalo Creek bridge and link
up to Buffalo Grove Road.
The street tree landscaping plan will be similar in design and
style to Westchester Phase I and Parkchester . They want to
maintain the integrity of Buffalo Creek and a tree survey was
done . There are about 172 existing trees and about 93 of them
will be kept . 73 of these are Box Elders and are natural to
creek . Some trees must be removed in order to build the bridge
across the creek. All brush will be removed and the channel
redefined. The street scapes were described. There is an
island in the center of the cul-de-sac with two pine trees .
There is an existing stand of pine trees within the park area.
The area will be graded and paths will be located per the Park
District requirements leaving room for ball parks . There will
be no parking . It is intended to be a neighborhood park only.
The wet lake area is designed to be detention and retention.
The overall flow is toward the creek . The front areas and
parkways will be sodded and the rear yards will be seeded .
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
July 25 , 1991 - Page Four
The Village Forester ' s Review, dated July 22 , 1991 , recommends
approval of this landscape plan.
Mr . Green presented the elevation drawings of Westchester I and
Parkchester . The houses are semi-custom and can be expanded.
The lots average 14 ,000 square feet and the homes range from
3 , 400 to 3 , 500 square feet . All units are 2-story, with 2-car
garages , partial basements , 2-1/2 baths , laundry rooms that are
located on the first floor , separate breakfast and kitchen
areas and many have great room. There are 3-car options .
The same separation schedule will be followed it is more
restrictive than the B.G. Monotony Code . Photographs of the
material boards was submitted. Mr . Green stipulated that all
the materials have been previously approved: i . e. brick ,
stone , cedar , aluminum gutters and downspouts , insulated glass
with wood frames (no aluminum frames are permitted) and there
will be no new models . A list of minor alterations was also
submitted.
Com. Weissman asked how the shore line of the lake will be
treated. Will it be sodded or seeded or will it be buffered
with rocks?
Mr . Green responded that it will be finished in the same way
as the lake area in Westchester #1 . They use anchormat which
allows the lake banks to be sodded all the way to the edge.
Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend construction of the
same models , elevations and materials that have been previously
approved for the Westchester Phase 1 and Parkchester subdivi-
sions as submitted for the 13 lots in Westchester Phase 2 .
Com. Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll call Vote: AYE - Gordon, Weissman, Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
Com. Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of the
Parkway Landscape Plan as submitted for Westchester Phase 2 ,
subject to the Village Forester ' s Review and Approval .
Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Gordon, Weissman, Viehman and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0
APPEARANCE COMMISSION
July 25 , 1991 - Page Five
VI . ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 . Mr . Kelly reported that a variance was recommended by the Zoning
Board of Appeals for a third wall sign on the east elevation of the
Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor . Hardship was demonstrated
because there is no sign on the building that is visible from the
parking lot of the shopping center or to drivers traveling west on
Lake Cook Road. It will be identical to the signs approved by the
AC on Lake Cook Road and Arlington Heights Road elevations .
Inadvertently , the sign was not submitted to the Appearance
Commission first .
A drawing of the proposed sign was reviewed . The AC Commissioners
noted that the sign on Lake Cook Road would be blocked by the canopy
over the front door and they agreed a third sign would be feasible .
Con. Viehman observed that only one sign would be seen at any time .
Com. Weissman made a motion to recommend to the Village Board that
a variance be granted Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor for a
third wall sign on the east elevation.
Com. Gordon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: AYE - Viehman, Weissman, Gordon and Larsen
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 .
2 . Mr . Kelly reported that "Bumpers" the pool room at the Town
Center has complied and removed most of the window signs . They
are now within the 25%`` limitation permitted by the B-5 Ordinance.
Other stores have been contacted and follow-up will continue .
VII . ADJOURNMENT
Com. Gordon made a motion to adjourn.
Ch. Larsen adjourned the meeting at 9 : 10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted ,
.;
Shirley ates
Recording Secretary
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APPEARANCE COMMISSION
July 25 , 1991 - Page Six