1994-02-10 - Appearance Commission - Minutes APPEARANCE COMMISSION
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10 , 1994
I. CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of Chairman Eddie Larsen, Commissioner
Richard Gordon chaired the meeting of the Appearance
Commission and called it to order at 7; 30 P.M. on Thursday,
February 10, 1994 at the Village Hall, 50 Raupp Boulevard.
II. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: R. Gordon, F. Weissman, A. Viehman,
M. Cea, S. Trilling and R. Lundine
Commissioners Absent: E. Larsen
Bldg. Dept. Liaison: Edward Schar,
Deputy Building Commissioner
Trustee Jeffrey Braiman was also present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 13, 1994 - Com. Cea made a motion to approve.
Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
No additions or corrections.
Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Cea,
Trilling and Lundine
NAY - None
ABSTAIN - Gordon
Motion Passed - 5 to 0 , 1 abstention
Minutes of January 13 , 1994 were approved as submitted.
January 27 , 1994 - Com. Lundine made a motion to approve.
Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
No additions or corrections.
Roll Call Vote: AYE - Viehman, Trilling, Lundine, Gordon
NAY - None
ABSTAIN - Weissman and Cea
Motion Passed - 4 to 0 , 2 abstentions
Minutes of January 27, 1994 were approved as submitted.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Emmerich Park Ballfield Lighting
Lake Cook Road Ball Diamonds
Mr. Dale "Duke" Ducommun, Superintendent of Parks,
Buffalo Grove Park District, and Mr. Tom Voltaggio,
Senior V.P. of Environmental Systems Designs, Project
Architect, 55 E. Monroe St. , Suite 1660, Chicago, IL
60603 (312-372-1200) made the presentation.
Mr. Ducommun described the site plan and requested
approval to change the existing 64 light fixtures,
which were installed in 1981 that are now out of date
`./ technically. The Park District wants to install new
fixtures that make use of higher technology. They will
eliminate the problem of glare from Lake Cook Road.
The new light fixtures will be mounted on the existing
poles and they will not create additional light.
Mr. Voltaggio described the differences in the two
type of fixtures. The existing fixtures, known as
sports lights, have a spun aluminum reflector. They
have a parabolic shape and they were made to throw as
much light as possible out onto the playing field to
cover as much area as possible.
The new fixtures are made with the same basic spun
aluminum reflectors, but they have been modified by
Qualite so that the lamp is tilted inside the fixture.
They have internal baffling and a visor that redirects
the light down onto the playing surface.
One aspect to be is considered is the spillage onto
adjacent properties. This can be minimized by the
aiming and design of the fixture.
Another concern is glare. The baffling and design
of the reflector in the internal assembly helps to
minimize the impact of glare. Creative ways have been
devised to accomplish this and drivers traveling from
from the east to the west will see a different situation.
They will see the lights but the discomfort level will
be reduced.
Mr. Ducommun said there will be the same amount of light
on the playing field. The purpose of the new fixtures
is to upgrade the system and improve the visual character-
istics of the lighting requirements.
Com. Viehman asked, "With the redirection of the lights
and additional intensity on the playing fields, how much
more intensity will also be created in the neighborhood
on the other side of the playing fields?
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February 10 , 1994 - Page Two
Mr. Voltaggio responded that the object is to maintain
similar levels of light on the playing fields without
spilling out onto adjacent surfaces. There are a number
\./ of ways to do this. Fixture counts can be reduced, but
this particular fixture is designed to not allow light
to spill out as it has in the past. There has been some
degradation in terms of the footcandles on the playing
surface over the years as the existing fixtures have aged.
They get dirty, and the lamps and ballasts deteriorate,
so in a sense, some of the light will be restored to its
original specifications of the fixture. The idea is to
produce better results on the perimeter of the field with
respect to the surrounding property.
Com. Viehman asked if the number of fixtures is being
reduced?
Mr. Voltaggio replied that this could be done. At this
time, the same number of fixture is being proposed, but
they are being distributed on the poles differently.
Com. Viehman asked if the people on the back side of
the playing fields will likely to be more impacted,
less impacted, or remain the same in terms of light?
Mr. Voltaggio said that in this case they will be the
same or less impacted. These lights will give the
fields a much more sharply defined line between where
darkness takes over on the playing surfaces. If you
were flying over and took aerial photographs of the
fields, there would be a sharply defined cutoff of the
light. There is also less glow on the horizon. The
dome of light that you would traditionally see is
diminished to a great extent due to the way the internal
baffling redirects light down toward the playing surface.
The exhibits show that the light poles are from 50 ' to 80 '
in height.
Com. Weissman asked if lowering the dome of light would
create a safety factor for the players? As a manager,
he was concerned that balls hit into the air could be
lost in the darkness then come back into the light.
Mr. Voltaggio replied that the cutoff is not that
precise. These lights have been installed on ball
fields in about six (6) other locations and conditions
have been improved. He cited Park Ridge, Glen Ellen,
and Bloomingdale as examples.
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February 10 , 1994 - Page Three
Ch. Gordon observed that the photometrics stop at
the boundary of the baseball fields. The neighbors
have been traditionally concerned about noise, the PA
system, and the lights so the Village needs to be
assured that the light level is not going to be any
worse than it is right now.
It was Mr. Voltaggio' s opinion that the neighbors will
experience improvement. That is one of the primary
forces behind the proposed change of the light fixtures.
The lights shine toward the baseball fields and the spill
values have been given at the property along Raupp Blvd.
and Lake Cook Road. It is a fact that taller poles are
better for spill because you get more vertical orientation
of the fixture and that helps to reduce the amount of
spill light onto adjacent properties. As you reduce the
pole heights, the aiming angles have to get more horizontal
in order to reach farther out into the playing surface and
when that happens the light continues on and to strikes
adjacent properties. Having the poles higher will help
because the aiming angles will be in a more vertical
direction and less in a horizontal direction.
Com. Lundine asked when the lights would be installed?
Mr. Ducommun said they opened bids and that is why they
need the recommendation from the Appearance Commission
and Village Board approval as soon as possible. They want
to have the lights before the 1994 baseball season starts
and would like to have the work done while the ground is
still frozen.
Trustee Braiman said it was his understanding, from the
previous discussions with the Park District, that
the whole purpose of the new lights was to reduce the
footcandles on the neighboring properties behind the
ball diamonds. He asked if this system will be an
improvement over what we now have.
Mr. Voltaggio responded that this is a fair characteriza-
tion of the proposed light fixtures.
Trustee Braiman brought up the question about the photo-
metrics not showing what will happen beyond the poles
around the baseball diamonds.
Mr. Voltaggio explained that is because their major
concern was with the Lake Cook Road traffic.
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February 10, 1994 - Page Four
Trustee Braiman informed Mr. Voltaggio that the main
concern of the Village Board were the residents and
said photometrics would be have to be made available
before Village Board approval is given.
Mr. Voltaggio said that it would simply be a matter of
turning on the lights and using a meter to take a reading.
Taking the reading now would give the worst possible case
scenario because the snow reflects more light but grass
absorbs light. Snow will exaggerate the conditions.
There was discussion about whether to table the presentation
until the next AC meeting on February 24 , 1994 and send it
to the Village Board on March 7, 1994.
Trustee Braiman informed the Commissioners that there is
a Special Village Board meeting scheduled for Monday night,
February 14 , 1994 and if the photometrics can be made
available tomorrow, he would see if the item can be added
to the agenda. He advised that the proposed lighting be
recommended subject to specific conditions.
The Commissioners agreed with this suggestion.
Com. Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the
changes submitted for the Emmerich Park Ballfield
Lighting, subject to submittal of a more detailed
photometric study showing the light levels along the
residential property lines, and that readings of the
current lighting levels also be submitted for comparison.
Com. Lundine seconded the motion.
Com. Viehman added the comment that the Appearance
Commission recognizes this lighting change is an
improvement and the Park District is to be commended
for what is being done to upgrade the system.
Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Cea,
Trilling, Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Note: Commissioners Weissman and Gordon both stated
that they are involved with the B.G.R.A. program but
their votes are not influenced in any way.
Motion Passed - 6 to 0.
Mr. Ducommun was directed to submit the new photometric
readings, including the existing light conditions along
the residential property, to the Building Department,
as early as possible on Friday, February 11, 1994.
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February 10 , 1994 - Page Five
B. Outback Steakhouse Revisions of
Elevations, Signs and Landscaping
720 Lake Cook Road at Weidner Road
Presentation was made by Mr. Greg Pradun, AIA, GPA, Inc.
2219 Chestnut Street, Northbrook, IL 60062 (192-1744) .
1. Ground Sign
Mr. Pradun described the revised site plan showing the
the sign at the southwest corner of the property. The
sign was originally centered on the property frontage,
but since distance between signs is not a factor, the AC
had suggested that it would have better visibility at the
corner.
The AC had also recommended that the sign be opened up at
the bottom, but the client prefers a solid base because it
needs this type of base to rest upon. Plantings surround-
ing the sign will will soften the brick structure.
The sign was originally twelve feet (12' ) in height and it
was situated on top of a berm, set back ten feet (10 ' ) from
the curb at the street. It has been redesigned and the
height is now fifteen feet (15 ' ) to the peak of the triangle.
The brick base is seven feet (7 ' ) and the total height of
the sign is eight feet (8 ' ) . At the new location, the sign
will be set back fifteen feet (15 ' ) from the property line.
U Mr. Pradun asked for the option to position the sign on an
angle, or perpendicular, to Lake Cook Road, whichever will
give it better visibility.
Mr. Schar said the sign would be sent to the Village Engineer
for a line-of-sight review. Mr. Pradun agreed to abide by
the Village Engineer' s recommendations.
2 . Wall Sign on Front Elevation
The secondary sign on the east elevation has been eliminated.
The background of the sign on the front elevation will be
cedar siding and it will be stained a natural color. The
developer was pleased with the Appearance Commission' s
recommendation to change the background from brick to cedar
and they will keep the sign looking clean and inviting to
solicitate business.
The sign on the front was originally shown in a box on a
raceway, but the Commission preferred no raceway, so the
developer agreed to mount the letters directly to the cedar.
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February 10, 1994 - Page Six
Com. Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the
ground sign and wall sign as submitted.
Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
`/ Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Cea,
Trilling, Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 6 to 0.
3 . LANDSCAPING:
The landscaping around the sign has been modified from
the front to the corner and some of the trees have been
moved pursuant to the Commission' s recommendation.
Mr. Schar informed the Commissioners that the revised
plan was sent to the Village Forester for review, but
he has not sent any recommendations. The motion should
be subject to the Village Forester' s Review.
Com. Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of the
Revised Landscape Plan submitted for Outback Steakhouse,
subject to the Village Forester' s Review.
Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Cea,
Trilling, Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 6 to 0.
U V. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 . Com. Lundine inquired about the Nissan cars that are
parked in the public park?
Trustee Braiman said he did not know what or if there has
been any agreement with the Park District.
2 . Com. Viehman noted that the Seigle' s secondary sign box
has been removed.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Com. Cea and seconded by
Com. Lundine. The meeting was adjourned at 8 : 22 P.M.
Respectfully submitted.
Shirley Bates
Recording Secretary
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February 10 , 1994 - Page Seven