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1996-07-11 - Appearance Commission - Minutes . • • ,ft, ORAFT COPY APPEARANCE COMMISSION VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1996 I . CALL TO ORDER Chairman Richard Gordon called the Appearance Commission to order at 7 :35 P.M. on Thursday, June 11, 1996 in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd. II . ROLL CALL Commissioners Present : F. Weissman, A. Viehman, M. Cea E. Smith, L. Dorfman, C. Masure Gordon QUORUM Commissioners Absent : None Bldg. Dept . Liaison: Richard Jensen, Building Inspector Village Board Liaison: DeAnn Glover, Trustee III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1 . June 13 , 1996 - Motion to approve as submitted was made by Commissioner Cea and seconded by Com. Masure . Roll Call Vote : AYE - Weissman, Cea, Smith, Masure and Gordon NAY - None ABSTAIN - Viehman and Dorfman Motion Passed 5 to 0, 2 abstentions 2 . May 23 , 1996 - Motion to approve as submitted was made by Com. Weissman and seconded by Com. Viehman. Roll Call Vote : AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Smith, Dorfman and Gordon NAY - None ABSTAIN - Cea and Masure Motion Passed 5 to 0, 2 abstentions 3 . April 25, 1996 - Motion to approve as submitted was made by Com. Cea and seconded by Com. Masure . Roll Call Vote : AYE - Weissman, Masure, Cea, Smith and Dorfman NAY - None ABSTAIN - Viehman and Gordon Motion Passed - 5 to 0, 2 abstentions IV. BUSINESS A. Police Headquarters Building 46 Raupp Boulevard Temporary Construction Sign The sign was submitted by Mr. Jack Weyrauch, Special Project Representative . It is the same design as all the other Village signs . The Commissioners had no questions . Com. Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the Temporary Construction Sign for the Police Headquarters Building, 46 Raupp Boulevard, as submitted. Com. Smith seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Cea, Smith, Dorfman, Masure and Gordon NAY - None Motion Passed - 7 to 0 . B . Strathmore Square Shopping Center - Leasing Signs NW Corner of Dundee and Arlington Heights Roads Recommendation for Variance of Sign Code Mr. Marvin Feiger, Raybec Management Co. , Ltd, 7855 Gross Point Road, Skokie, IL 60077 (708) 677-1000 made the presentation. Mr. Feiger requested a variance of the Sign Code for the purpose of installing two (2) temporary leasing signs at Strathmore Square Shopping Center. One (1) 8 ' x 12 ' sign to be installed on Dundee Road and one (1) 4 ' x 6 ' sign on Arlington Heights Road. The purpose of the variance would be to notify the public that the center is being renovated and that there are spaces available for rent . The sizes of the two (2) signs meet the specifications of the sign code relative to frontage. The front of the shopping center will be completely remodeled in keeping with the 1990 ' S and a copy of the architectural rendering will be shown in the center of the large sign. APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE TWO • COPY OPY They want to give the shopping center a new image to attract new tenants. Ch. Gordon informed Mr. Feiger that the Sign Code was revised and temporary leasing signs were eliminated. Mr. Feiger said it has been his experience that signs have been the most effective way to get new tenants . Com. Dorfman asked how long is temporary? Mr. Feiger said they want to have it leased out in a year to a year and a half. They do not want the sign up any longer than necessary because they want to show progress . They have been negotiating with Walgreen' s and Blockbuster to give them new locations . Walgreen' s has signed a new three (3) year lease and if they can have a drive-thru, they will sign a longer term lease . Some of the current tenants are not paying full price and some are renting month by month. Com. Viehman asked if the renovation is going to begin before or after the center is leased? He also asked if tenants come from drive-by business people or from realtors? Mr. Feiger responded that if the signs are permitted, some of the major tenants will sign long term leases and the renovation can begin. They need the new building to entice tenants to move in and if they see the work being done they will be more interested. Franchise people drive around looking for good locations and when they see renovation is being done, they call . Com. Weissman questioned why the sign needed to have "Undergoing Renovation" on it because people will see that the building is under construction. Ch. Gordon advised Mr. Feiger that the management com- pany name and telephone number can be on a construction sign. APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE THREE \w/ Ileso;.' n. Adlinw COP1 Com. Viehman explained that leasing signs in the windows will tell people what spaces are available. Mr. Feiger said that the front of the center is so far off Dundee Road, leasing signs cannot be seen. He has discussed the sign problem with Mr. Schar and the Village Manager, Mr. Balling. They both advised him to request a variation. Com. Cea objected to 'leasing signs of this type because they become permanent signs . The Sign Code was revised last year and it was decided to eliminate leasing signs except for window signs . Com. Dorfman suggested putting a time limit on the recommendation for the signs . It is better to have the stores leased than to have an empty shopping center. Mr. Feiger did not object to having a specified time limit and asked how long? No time limit was specified. Ch. Gordon noted that the Arlington Heights Road side of the center is a brick wall and said that a sign could be put on that wall without a variation. Mr. Feiger said he would accept that location for the smaller sign. The larger sign would be parallel to Dundee Road. It would be single-faced and it would be installed in the asphalt to meet the required setback. He asked if it could be put up until the renovation begins and then put up a construction sign? Ch. Gordon informed him that a construction sign can be put up five (5) days before construction begins and must be removed five (5) days after completion. Com. Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the leasing 4 ' x 6 ' leasing sign for Strathmore Square Shopping Center, to be mounted to the east wall facing Arlington Heights Road. APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE FOUR Com. Smith seconded the motion. r . E k . '‘pin !IP) 11q7 ;..0,4, Roll Call Vote : AYE - Masure, Viehman, Weissman, Cea, Smith, Dorfman and Gordon NAY - None Motion Passed - 7 to 0 . Com. Smith made a motion to recommend approval of a variance to permit installation of a temporary leasing sign on Dundee Road, as submitted for the Strathmore Square Shopping Center. Said sign to be removed when construction begins and it is to be replaced by a construction sign with the management company name and telephone number. Com. Cea seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE - Masure, Smith and Dorfman. NAY - Viehman, Weissman, Cea and Gordon Motion Denied - 4 to 3 Com. Viehman said the reason for his NAY vote was because the Sign Code was revised to eliminate leasing signs and a variance would set a bad precedent . C. Commercial Development : SE Corner Weiland and Aptakisic Lot 1, Auto Laundry - Full Review: Elevations, Materials and Colors Lighting, Landscaping and Signs Lot 2, Commercial Building - Full Review: Elevations, Materials and Colors Lighting and Landscaping Mr. John Green, NCARB, Groundwork, LTD. 1051 Perimeter Drive, Suite 1110, Schaumburg, Il 60173 (413-0300) and his partner, Mr. Keith Jacobs, Jacobs Homes, were present . Mr. Green described the 1 . 6 acre site, which is divided into two (2) portions by zoning. The northern . 92 acres is zoned B-4 and the southern . 52 acres is zoned B-1 . The proposed site for the Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) building is on the west side of Weiland. The access of that facility is lined up at the south end with the access to the subject parcel . APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 -PAGE FIVE 41.1 There is one (1) residence in unincorporated Lake County to the south; and two (2) residences in unincorporated Prairie View to the north with a six foot (6 ' ) fence along Aptakisic Road that separates them from Buffalo Grove. Detention and North Central Railroad are located to the east of the site. The site is bounded by three (3) streets on the north, west and south. 1 . LANDSCAPING (and GROUND SIGNS) : The landscape plan (Exhibit #3) , dated June 18, 1996 was discussed with the Plan Commission and it meets the Village Forester' s Recommendations, dated June 17, 1996 . The site is designed so that there are no driveways, parking or roadways on the west and south sides of the buildings . The buildings are set back twenty-five feet (25 ' ) from the western lot line. The entire plan was described. There is a five foot (5 ' ) grade difference from Aptkisic Road to the site roadway. The bike path is in between this area and a heavily planted berm sixty feet (60 ' ) in length screens the site from Aptakisic Road. The grade transition from the detention area to the NE corner of the site will have interlocking stones that terrace down and enhance the center. The construction materials of the kiosks and refuse areas will match the car wash and commercial buildings, so that all the elements tie in together. They will have the same basic design with the same banding and the same canopy details . The main buildings serve as the screening between the driving, parking and access which is on the east side of the site. A landscaped island will be added for the transformer location area on the north side of the service doors of the mechanical room and the transformer will be screened with evergreen material . The parking areas of the two (2) buildings are separated by curbed, grassed and landscaped islands and there is good traffic flow within the site. APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE SIX Ai W There will be a green area, planted with lilac bushes, between the building and sidewalk, on the west side of the building, that leads to the parking spaces. The refuse areas, on landscaped islands, will be about seven feet (7 ' ) in height . The parkway trees meet the development ordinance and the planted areas on the west and south exceed the typical screening required by code . Ground signs are shown at the south and north ends of the site . The one on the south will be perpendicular to Weiland Road and the one on the north will be perpendicular to the intersection point of Weiland and Aptakisic. The signs will be 11 ft . x 7 ft, and 14 ft. in height and they will be set back over fifty five feet (55 ' ) because of the amount of green space required by the Village. The sign copy will be submitted at a later date. In conclusion, Mr. Green said they have been sensitive to all the issues and concerns by having all access to the site on the east, concentrating the landscaping to west . Com. Cea was concerned about the two (2) Lindens on the west side in front of the car wash, because they will only have foliage half the year. Ch. Gordon asked that these two Lindens be changed to evergreens . Mr. Green offered to add two (2) evergreens but he want- ed to keep one (1) Linden because he likes the mix. Com. Viehman observed that the car wash wall sign is going to be at the northwest corner of the building and asked for some foundation plantings under the sign area. There is some ground lighting shown along that side of the building. APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE SEVEN kAFT CO Mr. Green agreed to add six (6) to eight (8) low Gold Flame Spirea bushes, but he does want to leave the sign area open. The lights will illuminate the landscaping not the building. Com. Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the Landscaping as submitted for the Commercial Development at the corner of Weiland and Aptakisic Roads, with the addition of two (2) Austrian Pine trees on the west elevation and addition of six (6) to eight (8) Spirea bushes to the north of the planting area next to the car wash on the west elevation. Com. Dorfman seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Masure, Cea, Smith, Dorfman and Gordon NAY - None Motion Passed - 7 to 0 . 1 . ARCHITECTURE AND MATERIALS : David Witmar, Project Architect, assisted Mr. Green with the presentation. A rendering of the proposed car wash facility is attached. Turtle Wax is not the name. It will be called "Grand Prix Car Wash" and the materials for both buildings will be the same . The backs of buildings are to the west and the fronts are to the east . The sides are open to the roads, so they are also front elevations. Lot 1 - The car wash building is 120 feet in length and it is fourteen feet (14 ' ) in height to the top of the parapet and the roof top units are screened with trellis accents . There are three (3) wide courses of Whiteman White split-faced block separated by 4" wide half block courses, that are glazed block, recessed to give shadow lines . The mortar will be white . There is a continuous, 24" glazed block, Sunshine Yellow, color band around the buildings and there is a glazed ebony half block at the top and bottom of the yellow band. APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE EIGHT 4 te ts; gn' 1111 The yellow band is also the sign band which will have individual, back lit, black letters. The colors relate to the name, Grand Prix Car Wash. The canopy and trellis material is Special White alumi- num and the verticals behind the trellis are white painted steel . The main canopy on the car wash will have a white roof. It is twelve (12) sided and it is set into the building. There will be recessed lighting under the canopy and that is where people will wait for their cars . The trellis material screens the mechanical equipment on the roof. There is a concrete parapet on both buildings and the trellis extends about two feet (2 ' ) above the parapet . The glass will be clear with anodized aluminum framing around the windows and the entrance and exit doors. The materials and patterns of the commercial building will match the car wash building, including the yellow band which will also have ebony back lit letters . There is a lot of glass on the west elevation of the commercial building and there will be a center trellis to screen the mechanical equipment . It will have entrance canopies with recessed lighting. The kiosk will be constructed with the same materials including the same color band and it will have a wall sign facing the northeast . Ch. Gordon commented that the west elevation of the car wash is a massive white wall and the pine trees will help to screen it but the trellis seems out of propor- tion. Mr. Green did not want the increase the length of the trellis but agreed to add two (2) courses to the height of the trellis on both sides of both buildings . APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE NINE The color scheme was discussed. Mr. Carl Weiss, a resident of Old Farm Village, was present and objected to the bright yellow sign band. Com. Weissman commented that the color scheme was the same as Midas and Car-X. He suggested green, which is another auto racing color. Mr. Green said they wanted the building to have some impact to offset the black and white. He did not want green because it would blend in with the landscaping. To make the band grey or blue would give the building a cold, washed out effect . Yellow is the preferred color because it adds vibrancy. Mrs . Gina Sheade, 1520 Madison Drive 634-7725) strongly objected to the whole concept of the car wash because it would not be in keeping with the Old Farm subdivision. The design is obtrusive and the race car message will be detrimental to the safety of children. She asked what businesses were going into the commercial building. Mr. Green conferred with Mr. Jacobs and said he does not know if he can get a muted yellow, which would tone down the accent band. If he cannot get muted yellow then he agreed to compromise and substitute a muted green color. They would like to please the residents, if possible. They have reduced the height of the building and tried to soften it in a number of ways and enhanced the amount of landscaping. He does not know what businesses will be attracted to the commercial building. They are negotiating with tenants that comply with the B-i limited zoning uses. Trustee Glover said the Village Board has only seen the site design but have not seen the buildings and colors . Com. Cea commented on the overall architecture and the proximity of the development to the residential area. The architects have met the challenge of making the building residential in nature and they have achieved a soft approach in the car wash design on this site . APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE TEN 4 u In comparison with the proposed ice rink, the car wash will be compatible if the sign band is changed to a muted yellow or green as Mr. Green has indicated. Mr. Green said the car wash hours of operation will be 7 AM to 7 PM - Monday through Saturday with shorter hours on Sunday. The canopy down lights will be turned off a 10 AM because there is necessary clean up work to be done after closing. The landscape lighting will be left on all night . There is no glass on the north and west sides of the car wash building, so light will not be seen from those directions . Com. Cea made a motion to recommend approval of the elevations and materials for the car wash facility and commercial building, as submitted, with the stipulation that the trellis will be extended two feet (2 ' ) above the roof parapet except at the front entrance and with the exception that the Sunflower Yellow accent band will be eliminated; and a muted yellow or pale green color to be resubmitted to the Appearance Commission for approval . Com. Viehman seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote : AYE - Weissman, Viehman, Cea, Masure, Smith, Dorfman and Gordon NAY - None Motion Passed - 7 to 0 . 3 . LIGHTING: Mr. Green described the lighting plan for the site and the building. There will be eight (8) standards with nine (9) fixtures. One pole with a double-headed fixture has been added to the plan. It will be instal- led south of the car wash building to that people can inspect their cars during evening hours . The photometric plan indicates zero foot candles along the west lot line and along the west 2/3 of the south lot line. The standards are fourteen feet (14 ' ) in height and most of them are along the parking lane so the light spills over into the stacking lane to provide sufficient light for safety and access . APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE ELEVEN The standard Buffalo Grove box fixtures will have 175 watt metal halide bulbs . The new light will be 75 feet away from the west lot line and the light reaches zero foot candles at about 70 feet . Com. Viehman questioned whether the lights under the canopy would be sufficient, but Mr. Green said these lights are recessed down lights and they could not be aimed out because they would look like spot lights . The photometric design does not include the down lights and there is no spillage from them. Ch. Gordon asked if the double-headed pole could be reversed so the light is not thrown forward. Mr. Green said the light could be moved farther away and agreed to place it 80 feet from the lot line . It was noted that the new light would be screened with the landscaping between the two (2) buildings . The landscaping is interspersed with 70 watt metal halide ground lights pointing up for accent . Some bollards are included in the catalog, but were not shown on the plan. There will be four (4) fixtures installed along the walkways at the north and south ends of the commercial building. They will be two to three feet (2 ' -3 ' ) in height and they are not high intensity. In addition to the recessed lighting under the building canopies, six (6) other lights will be located along the north side and the northern 1/3 of the auto wash building. These are wall sconces and will give light along the tunnel area. The split pyramid fixture will shine light away from the building. They will also be installed on the east side of the building next to the garage doors to give light to customers coming into the building and going to the cashier are. Com. Weissman made a motion to recommend approval of the Lighting Plan, as submitted, for the Auto Laundry and Commercial Building, at Weiland and Aptakisic Road, APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE TWELVE - is i L'rnIFTCtpy including four (4) bollards at the north and south lot lines of the commercial building and the six (6) wall sconces on the car wash building, with the stipulation that one (1) double-headed fixture will be added to the south end of the auto laundry area which is to be not less than eighty (80) feet away from the west lot line. Com. Viehman seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE - Masure, Viehman, Weissman, Cea, Smith, Dorfman and Gordon NAY - None Motion Passed - 7 to 0 . 4 . SIGNS : The signs on the car wash building will be black individual back-lit letters . There will be three (3) Grand Prix Car Wash wall signs on the main building: one (1) on the building facing south east, one on the building facing west and one (1) on the kiosks facing northeast . These signs are permitted be Code. Ch. Gordon questioned whether the sign on the kiosks would be considered a wall sign or a ground sign. Com. Cea asked why the racing flags at The Finishing Line? Mr. Green said they accent the auto race theme. They are on the east side of the building and they are just an embellishment . The signs on the commercial building will also be the black back-lit letters. Com. Viehman made a motion to recommend approval of the three (3) signs as submitted for the Grand Prix Car Wash, two (2) on the main building and one (1) on the kiosks; and The Finishing Line sign with racing flags . Signs to be solid black plastic, back-lit, raised internally illuminated italicized Helvetica letters . APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE THIRTEEN I,. Also recommended are the same concept of signs for the commercial building. The ground signs will be submitted at a later date. Com. Weissman seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: AYE - Smith, Dorfman, Masure, Viehman, Weissman and Gordon NAY - Cea Motion Passed - 6 to 1 V. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. VI . ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Com. Masure and seconded by Com. Cea. Ch. Gordon adjourned the meeting at 10 :13 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Shirley Bates Recording Secretary sb APPEARANCE COMMISSION JULY 11, 1996 - PAGE FOURTEEN