2016-10-19 - Planning and Zoning Commission - Minutes10/19/2016
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OF THE
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 50 RAUPP BOULEVARD,
BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:31 PM by Commissioner Eric Smith
Public Hearings/Items For Consideration
1. Consider Approval of a Variation to Install a 5 Foot Fence in the Corner Side Yard and a
Variation for an Air Conditioning Unit and Generator to be in the Corner Side Yard
Setback (Trustee Weidenfeld) (Staff Contact: Chris Stilling)
Mr. Ronald Krass and Mrs. Marian Krass, 1101 Highland Grove Drive, were present and
sworn in.
Mr. Krass explained that they live on a corner lot. They installed a replacement air
conditioner unit to in the same location as the previous one. When the inspector came
out, they were told it was in the wrong spot. If the air conditioner can stay, they would
also like to install a generator on that side as well. The also bought a fence to enclose the
yard. The fence would be continuous with their neighbor’s existing fence so it would look
uniform. He wants to ensure that the air conditioner and generator would not be visible
from the street. The proposed fence is a five (5) foot board on board wood fence. He also
wants to avoid any noise to his neighbors.
Com. Goldspiel asked if there are any line of sight issues. Mr. Stilling responded no.
Com. Lesser confirmed with Mr. Stilling that the contractor issued the permit was advised
that the air conditioner could not be replaced in the same location, but did it anyway. He
does not have any issues with the request and believes the Petitioner is being
considerate of his neighbors. He does have an issue with the con tractor and asked what
actions could be taken against the contractor. Mr. Stilling responded that Contractor
License revocation process is very costly and lengthy and he does not believe that this
happens very often.
Com. Cesario asked if any objections were received by the Village. Mr. Stilling responded
no.
Ch. Smith entered the Staff Report as Exhibit 1.
Com. Au asked if the location of the air conditioner conformed to the Zoning Ordinance
when it was originally installed. Mr. Stilling believes it did. Zoning regulations have
changed over the years.
There were no additional questions or comments from the Commissioners. There were
no questions or comments from the audience.
10/19/2016
The public hearing was closed at 7:46 PM.
Moved by Com. Cesario, seconded by Com. Lesser, to approve the request for a
variation to install a 5 foot fence in the corner side and to recommend to the Village
Board approval of the variation request to allow an air conditioner unit and a generator to
be located in the corner side yard setback.
Com. Cesario stated that he believes the request is in harmony with the area.
Com. Cohn stated that he is in favor of the request, but missed most of the testimony.
There were no further comments from the Commissioners.
RESULT: RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE [5 TO 0]
Next: 11/7/2016 7:30 PM
AYES: Smith, Cesario, Goldspiel, Lesser, Au
ABSTAIN: Matthew Cohn
ABSENT: Adam Moodhe, Zill Khan, Mitchell Weinstein
2. Consider Preliminary Plan Approval for a New Self -Storage Facility at 847 Deerfield
Parkway (Trustee Berman) (Staff Contact: Chris Stilling)
Mr. Robert Heilman, Vice President of Development for Metro Self Storage, 13528
Boulton Boulevard, Lake Forest, IL, was present and sworn in.
Mr. Heilman reviewed the proposed development. There is a correc tion to the square
footage as well as the number of parking spaces. The correct building square footage is
116, 412 and the number of parking spaces is 12 spaces, including 1 accessible space.
The property is located in the Industrial District. There is a retention basin to the south
which was designed to accommodate development on this parcel. The proposed facility
is a 3-story, fully conditioned, climate controlled building. 70% would be residential
customers, 20% would be commercial customers and 10% would be miscellaneous
customers. He reviewed the floor plans, including the location of the access points. There
will be 2 elevators in the building. The number of storage units would be 820 and they
would vary in sizes. The exterior access doors would not be visible from the street. He
reviewed the exterior elevations. The building would consist of a base brick with banding
on the upper floors and accent stucco. There is an attractive, modern look and feel to the
building. Some light engineering and site improvements have been performed and meet
local requirements. He is working on a landscaping plan but has not yet completed it. He
reviewed the proposed location for the trash enclosure and reviewed the photometric
plan. He also reviewed the proposed signage. There would be two wall signs and a
ground sign. One wall sign on the north elevation and one wall sign on the east elevation.
The ground sign would not be a reader board. He reviewed photographs of the interior of
one of his other facilities to show what it would look like.
Com. Goldspiel advised that he has used the facility in Lake Zurich and believes that it is
very well maintained. This site is located next to the railroad tracks and the tracks see a
lot of traffic. He asked if the Village has looked at any possible visibility issues since the
area is a “Quiet Zone” and no horns can be used. Mr. Stilling does not believe that there
will be any issues.
10/19/2016
Com. Lesser asked is there are any wetlands on the site. Mr. Heilman does not believe
so. Com. Lesser asked if the detention is maintained on site. Mr. Heilman responded yes.
Com. Lesser asked if the facility would be staffed part of the time and about the hours of
access to the facility. Mr. Heilman stated that the facility will be staffed from 9:30 AM until
6:00 PM during the week. Customers will have access to the building from 6:00 AM until
10:00 PM. Once a customer signs a lease, they are giving a PIN number unique to their
unit so they can track usage. There will also be video cameras both on and off site. Com.
Lesser asked how they control what is being stored in the units. Mr. Heilman stated that
the property manager watches the move in’s and move out’s. It is also written into the
lease agreement what can and can’t be stored. Com. Lesser asked about issues that Mr.
Heilman has encountered in the past. Mr. Heilman responded that there have been
minimal issues. He is not involved in the operations side but once he saw a garden tool
that leaked gas. Com. Lesser asked about a safety plan for after hours, for someone in
destress. Mr. Heilman stated that there will be an intercom system installed throughout
the building. Com. Lesser asked if the property manager would reside on site. Mr.
Heilman responded no. Com. Lesser asked if the building will be spri nklered. Mr. Heilman
responded yes.
Com. Cesario asked Mr. Stilling about the parking on site. Mr. Stilling advised that staff
looked at the parking requirements. Based off the number of units most communities
require 8 to 10 spaces. Public Storage has 10 spaces. Metro is proposing 12.
Mr. Stilling asked Mr. Heilman if consideration has been given to installing a solid fence
along the west property line adjacent to the railroad tracks. Mr. Heilman is not sure but he
would not oppose it. There is a grade difference of about 6 to 8 feet from the tracks. So a
fence may not provide any screening. No other fencing exists along the tracks either.
Com. Lesser stated that he is pleased with the design, the signage is constrained and the
use is in harmony with adjacent properties.
Com. Cohn believes a fence along the west property line would be awkward.
Com. Cesario agrees that there should not be a fence.
Ch. Smith entered the Staff Report as Exhibit 1.
There were no additional questions or comments from the C ommissioners. There were
no questions or comments from the audience.
The public hearing was closed at 8:14 PM.
Moved by Com. Cesario, seconded by Com. Lesser, to recommend to the Village Board
approval of the Petition for Preliminary Plan approval for a 116,412 square foot self-
storage building located at 847 Deerfield Parkway.
10/19/2016
RESULT: RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
Next: 11/7/2016 7:30 PM
AYES: Smith, Cesario, Cohn, Goldspiel, Lesser, Au
ABSENT: Adam Moodhe, Zill Khan, Mitchell Weinstein
Regular Meeting
Other Matters for Discussion
None.
Approval of Minutes
1. Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting - Sep 21, 2016 7:30 PM
Moved by Com. Au, seconded by Com. Lesser, to approve the minutes of the
September 21, 2016 regular meeting.
Com. Goldspiel stated that on Page 50 of the packet, the second to last
paragraph has two corrections: in the fourth line, replace the word "lengths" with
"widths"; and the eight line should read "proposed Woodman's building that so
few variations to the Sign Code are still required."
RESULT: ACCEPTED [5 TO 0]
AYES: Smith, Cesario, Goldspiel, Lesser, Au
ABSTAIN: Matthew Cohn
ABSENT: Adam Moodhe, Zill Khan, Mitchell Weinstein
Chairman's Report
None.
Committee and Liaison Reports
Mr. Stilling advised that Sky Fitness was approved by the Village Board along with the Speedway
Annexation Agreement Amendment.
Staff Report/Future Agenda Schedule
Mr. Stilling advised that Woodman's is coming back to the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC).
Mr. Woodman decided to move the car wash/lube center building to the north parcel. Also,
Shorewood is not yet sure what they will be doing with the south parcel. This is a substantial
change that must be reviewed by the PZC before it goes to the Village board.
Com. Lesser asked about park ing on the north lot with the change. Mr. Stilling advised that they
would be losing about 20 parking spaces but the parking still meets zoning requirements.
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Ch. Smith asked about the bank building. Mr. Stilling advised that comments came back from the
Lake County Department of Transportation and tweaks are being made to the plan. Ch. Smith
also asked about the aesthetics of the proposed bank building. Mr. Stilling advised that it was
made clear that the bank building needs to mesh with Shorewood's buildings.
Public Comments and Questions
None.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM
Chris Stilling Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY ME THIS 19th DAY OF October , 2016