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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 sb APPEARANCE COMMISSION July 25 , 1991 - Page Six