1994-12-08 - Appearance Commission - Minutes APPEARANCE COMMISSION
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE . ILLINOIS
THURSDAY . DECEMBER 8 , 1994
I . CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Richard Gordon called the Appearance Commission meeting
to order at 7 : 39 P.M. on Thursday . December 8 , 1994 at the
Village Hall , 50 Raupp Boulevard.
II . ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present : F. Weissman, A. Viehman, M. Cea ,
S. Trilling , R. Lundine and R. Gordon
Commissioners Absent : None
Bldg . Dept . Liaison: Edward Schar . Deputy Building Commissioner
III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 10 , 1994 - Motion to approve as submitted was made by
Com. Cea and seconded by Com. Weissman.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman. Weissman. Cea . Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
ABSTAIN - Trilling
Motion Passed - 5 to O . 1 abstention.
HIV. BUSINESS
A. Computer Discount Warehouse . 1020 East Lake Cook Road
Canopy Lighting with Egg Crate Ceiling . Removable Walls and
Wall Signs
Mr . Phil Olson. Canopy Headquarters . 610 Indian Hill Road .
Deerfield . IL 60015 (948-8640 ) described the proposed
illumination of the previously approved canopy and the
suspended egg crate ceiling . He also requested the addition
of removable grey vinyl walls with clear vinyl windows to the
installed on aluminum moldings braced with aluminum uprights
every ten feet ( 10 ' ) .
There were no objections to the illumination and ceiling .
The purpose of the walls is for the convenience of customers
to protect them from winter weather . The canopy is behind the
building and will not be seen from Lake-Cook Road .
Com. Lundine objected to the wails because there is really no
need for them and they will set a bad precedence .
Com. Cea objected to the appearance because they will detract
from the architecture of the building .
Com. Viehman agreed that the wails were not aesthetically
pleasing but they might be practical . He suggested using all
clear vinyl instead of the solid grey .
Mr . Olson had no objection to clear vinyl . In response to
Com . Gordon' s concern that clear vinyl would soon be dirty and
discolor . Mr . Olson said the windows could be made larger .
The Commissioners discussed the wind factor , which could
create a wind tunnel effect : , the appearance of a tent on the
outside of the building ; and the fact that people must walk
from their cars in the weather before they got to the canopy.
Mr . Olson said CDW could always remove the walls if any of
these problems occur . but a poll indicated 6 to 0 that the
Commissioners would not recommend the proposed walls .
Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the
proposed lighting with the egg crate ceiling to be added to
the previously approved canopy at the Computer Discount
Warehouse , 1020 East Lake Cook Road . as submitted .
Com. Lundine seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman. Weissman . Cea .
Trilling . Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 6 to 0 .
Com. Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of the
removable vinyl walls for the previously approved canopy at
the Computer Discount Warehouse , 1020 East Lake Cook Road .
Com. Trilling seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - None
NAY - Viehman, Weissman . Cea .
Trilling . Lundine and Gordon
Motion DENIED. 6 to 0 .
Mr . Olson was informed that this decision could be appealed
to the Village Board . Written notice should be given to the
Building Department and the item will be scheduled for the
next Board meeting . If a different proposal is made . it
should be submitted for Appearance Commission review .
Wall Signs:
Mr . Schar explained the procedure that has taken place . The
Special Use Agreement for Computer Discount Warehouse has been
amended by the Village Board of Trustees and the size of the
proposed wall signs is acceptable.
Computer Discount Warehouse has requested installation of two
(2) 18" x 176" box signs on the elevations where the -current
signs are now placed. The signs will consist of red letter-
ing , reading Discount Showroom , on a white illuminated back-
ground . The window letters have been removed .
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December 8 . 1994 - Page Two
Com . Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of the
two (2 ) box signs . requested by Computer Discount Warehouse
at 1020 East Lake Cook Road , as submitted . The signs will
have red letters on a white illuminated background and the
box is to be painted to match the building .
Com . Cea seconded the motion .
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman. Weissman . Cea .
Trilling . Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 6 to O .
B. Max ' s Deli - 228 to 230 McHenry Road , Town Center
Wall Sign - Recommendation for Variance
Mr . Herman Helier . Speedy Sign-A-Rama , 80 W. Dundee Road .
Buffalo Grove , IL 60089 ( 215-1535 ) and Mr . Marty Segal .
representative of Max ' s Deli and agent for Melvin Simon Assoc .
were present .
Mr . Hefier explained the need for a variance of the B-5
Section of the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Town Center
The sign criteria limits wall signs to 75 square feet of the
sign area . The sign band for Max ' s Deli is 67 feet in length
but the configuration of the proposed corporate sign . includ-
ing the tail of the letter M . when measured by Sign Code
standards , equals 117 square feet . The sign is thirty feet
(30 ' ) in length which meets the sign criteria and the height
of the largest letter (M) is 27 inches , also within the sign
criteria limitation of thirty inches (30" ) . The size of Deli
& Restaurant is eighteen square feet ( 18 sf . ) so the sign is
not exceptionally large . Sign-A-Rama has installed other
signs at Town Center and is familiar with the procedures .
Other Max ' s Delis are located at the Crossroads Center in
Highland Park and at Clark & Belden in Chicago . This restau-
rant will replace the Hav-A-Bashery and Yosel ' s at Town
Center .
The Commissioners had no objections to the proposed sign.
Com. Lundine made a motion to recommend to the Zoning Board of
Appeals and the Village Board that a variance be granted that
would permit the Max ' s Deli & Restaurant sign as proposed for
Town Center . with regard to the total square footage and
height of letter M.
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roil Cali Vote : AYE - Viehman . Weissman. Cea . Trilling .
Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 6 to 0 .
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December 8 . 1994 - Page Three
C . Grove Memorial Chapel - Buffalo Grove Road at Town Center
Full Review: Architecture . Materials and Colors :
Landscaping . Lighting and Sign
Mr . and Mrs . H 1 . Maioriello . 1199 S . Arlington Heights Road .
Elk Grove Village . Illinois 60007 ( 640-0566 ) made the
presentation. The site of the proposed funeral home will be
one ( 1 ) block north of Lake Cook Road . south of the Deerfield
bakery . The building has been designed to compliment Deer-
field ' s and St . Mary ' s Church. The materials will be similar
to the existing building in Llk Grove Village .
The basic material will be rock face concrete block . Final
selection of materials has not been made , but similar samples
were presented .
The timber areas . between the windows , will be an exposed
aggragate material applied to the concrete block . This
material , made up of gravel and stones . will be a light tan.
Brick , corbelled in and out . will surround the windows .
The small 2 ' x 2 ' windows will have stained glass removable
panels behind the clear glass . Mr . Maioriello makes these
windows himself . Other areas . the lounge . office area and
two ( 2) washrooms will have 2 ' x 4 ' casement windows .
The window frames . fascia and gutters wiii be dark bronze
aluminum.
The shingles will be Timberline , which is a light brown.
There is ornamental ironwork and a weathervane on the peak of
the building .
The timbers and front door wiii be stained cedar .
The brick arches surrounding the front door will be corbelled .
There will be skylights in the canopy and a high pressure
sodium light under the canopy .
The west elevation, facing Buffalo Grove Road , will have a
twenty foot ( 20 ' ) area of block with landscaped screening .
Com . Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the elevations
and materials as submitted for Grove Memorial Chapel .
Com. Viehman seconded the motion .
Roll Call Vote : Al - Viehman . Weissman. Cea .
Trilling . Lundine and Gordon
NAY - None
Motion Passed - 6 to 0 .
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December 8 . 1994 - Page Four
Later in the presentation. the alternate elevations were
discussed . The Appearance Commissioners agreed the lower
peaks make the long building look squatty and they preferred
the primary design with the higher peaks .
Mr . Maioriello was asked to submit a list of materials after
the final selections are made and the colors are chosen.
He agreed to do so .
LANDSCAPING:
The south lot line abuts two ( 2 ) houses and there are existing
hedges that range from five feet ( 5 ' ) in height down to three
( 3) feet . Ray Rigsby ' s Review . dated December 8 . 1994 .
recommends a fence or landscape screen along the south proper-
ty line and ail arborvitae should have a minimum height of
five feet ( 5 ' ) . Mr . Maiorieiio said that a fence was origin-
ally proposed , but the resident . Mr . Firnbach would prefer
landscaping so they have extended the arborvitae and propose
an initial height of four to four and one half feet (4 ' to
4-1/2 ' because they grow fast and will soon be five feet ( 5 ' )
in height . They can easily be maintained at a height of five
feet (5 ' ) and will be more attractive from Buffalo Grove Road .
Mr . Rigsby' s Review also recommends additional varieties of
deciduous trees , but Mr . Maiorieiio prefers small leaf locust
trees with ground lighting .
Ch. Gordon informed Mr . Maioriello that the Zoning Ordinance
requires a six foot (6 ' ) screen between Residential and
Business zones . This can be a fence or landscaping .
Mr . Maiorieiio responded that the space between the existing
houses and the chapel is only fifteen feet ( 15 ' ) and he would
prefer to have a lower hedge because he would like to avoid
the appearance of an alley.
Mr . Schar asked if this had been discussed with the Plan Com-
mission and if there was any variation recommended to the
Village Board to permit a lower fence or hedge?
Mr . Maioriello replied that the Firnbachs were present at the
Plan Commission meeting and stated their preference for a
hedge . The Plan Commission voted to recommend a variance
permitting a five foot (5 ' ) hedge to be included in the
Annexation Agreement .
Mr . Schar said he has not seen the Annexation Agreement . but
it would supercede the Zoning Ordinance .
Mr . Maioriello said the trees along Buffalo Grove Road will be
omitted because they could interfere with traffic .
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December 8 . 1994 - Page Five
After discussing the location of parkway trees in compliance
with the Ordinance and several other issues that require more
definite agreement with Mr . Rigsby , it was decided to Table
the Landscaping until the Annexation Agreement can be reviewed
and final plans are provided .
Com . Cea made a motion to Table the Grove Memorial Chapel
Landscaping . Com. Viehman seconded the motion.
Voice Vote - AYE Unanimously .
SIGN:
A drawing and construction details of the existing Elk Grove
Village sign were submitted . but it is a different design and
the plans were not adequate for review at this time .
Mr . Schar advised Mr . Maioriello that a variance would be
required to permit a ground sign at the Town Center .
Com. Viehman made a motion to Table the Sign. Com. Weissman
seconded the motion.
Voice Vote - AYE Unanimously.
LIGHTING:
The site lighting includes twelve foot ( 12 ' ) pole lights and
wall mounted lights that will be black or painted brown.
Depending on the final photometrics . the poles may be lower .
Mr . Maioriello understands that light must not flow past the
property line and said they will meet the code requirements .
Some of the lights will be on timers and some will be on
switches . Some security lighting is required at night .
There will also be three (3 ) flood lights that will illuminate
the front and sides of the building . Light will be thrown a
distance of up to fifty feet ( 50 ' ) . The fixtures will be
baffled so that light will not shine off the property and will
not interfere with traffic . They will also help to minimize
the length of the building more than a row of building mounted
wall lights .
Some of the Commissioners expressed concern that this type of
lighting would create a Cinderella Castle affect .
Mr . Schar quoted the B-5 Zoning Ordinance which states that
exterior lighting shall enhance the building design and
adjoining landscaping .
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December 8 . 1994 - Page Six
These flood lights were discussed at length. Mr . Maioriello
said the flood lights could be shut off at 10 : 00 P.M. and
agreed to adjust the lighting after installation , if
necessary .
Com . Viehman made a motion to approve the lighting for the
Grove Memorial Chapel , as submitted .
Com. Weissman seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote : AYE - Viehman. Weissman and Lundine
NAY - Gordon
ABSTAIN - Cea and Trilling
Motion Passed - 3 to 1 , with 2 abstentions .
V. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 . Mr . Schar said the new Sign Code was approved by the Village
Board and it will go into effect on December 19 . 1994 .
Com. Viehman suggested that Mr . Schar review the changes that
have been made .
The Commissioners agreed this would be helpful .
2 . Com . Lundine commended Mr . Schar for the quick action with
regard to the painting of the back of the Covington Corporate
Center ground sign on Dundee Road .
`,,, 3 . The December 22 , 1994 Appearance Commission meeting will be
cancelled because not enough Commissioners will be present to
make up a quorum.
VI . ADJOURNMENT
Com. Weissman made a motion to adjourn.
Com . Cea seconded the motion.
Voice Vote - AYE Unanimously
Ch. Gordon adjourned the meeting at 9 : 40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted .
Shirley Bates
Recording Secretary
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December 8 , 1994 - Page Seven