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2018-10-03 - Planning and Zoning Commission - Minutes10/3/2018 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 3, 2018 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Chairman Frank Cesario Public Hearings/Items For Consideration 1. Consider Approval of a Variation for a Recreational Vehicle (Pop -Up Camper) to be Stored in the Side Yard at 618 Bernard Drive (Trustee Stein) (Staff Contact: Chris Stilling) Ms. Laurel Brannan, 618 Bernard Drive and Ms. Therese Marsh, 594 Bernard Drive, were present and sworn in. Ms. Brannan explained that she is requesting a variation for their small camper. They have had the camper at this location for 5 years. The camper is located behind a fence. The camper is not visible and the location provides easy access to the street. There is no other location on the property for the camper and they would not have any access if the camper was placed elsewhere on the property. To put the camper in storage would be a hardship since they use the camper all the time. They use the camper in the spring and the fall outside the timeframe of what is allowed by the Ordnance. They have a one car garage and the camper will not fit in the garage. Ms. Marsh added that she had never noticed the camper was even there until it was pointed out to her. People drive fast on Bernard and the Brannan’s always exit the property safely with the camper. You really have to look to find the camper behind the fence. She noticed the public hearing sign before she noticed the camper. She does not have any complaints. The camper does not obstruct any views. She only sees the camper when they are prepping it to leave with it. Ms. Brannan provided signed statements from the neighbors that have no objections. Com. Weinstein thanked the Petitioner for screening the camper and being a good neighbor. He asked the Petitioner if she has read the proposed conditions in the sta ff report and if she would be amenable to adding two additional conditions. The first is that the variation is limited to this camper or one similar; and second that the fence is required to be maintained. Ms. Brannan responded yes, she will accept the two additional conditions. Com. Weinstein added that the camper should remain below the fence and not be propped up off the ground. Ms. Brannan agreed. Com. Khan asked how long the Petitioner had lived at this residence. Ms. Brannan stated that she has lived here for five years. Com. Khan asked if the fence existed when the Petitioner purchased the home. Ms. Brannan advised that they installed the fence after they moved in. Com. Khan asked if the home has a one car garage. Ms. Brannan responded yes. Com. Khan asked how many cars the Petitioner has. Ms. Brannan responded they have two cars. Com. Khan asked why the camper cannot fit in the garage. Ms. Brannan explained there would be no room to walk around the camper in the 10/3/2018 garage and the camper would barley fit through the door. Ms. Akash stated that staff went out and measured and the camper most likely would not fit through the garage door opening, it would get stuck. Ms. Brannan added that the camper would damage the trim around door if they tried to make it fit in the garage. Com. Khan asked if the variation is to allow the camper to be located three feet off the property line and to allow the lower height of the fence. Ms. Brannan responded yes. Com. Khan confirmed with the Petitioner that the variation is not for the location of the camper but for the setback and fence height. Ms. Brannan responded yes. Ch. Cesario read the letters submitted by the Petitioner into the record and advised that the letters would be marked as Exhibits 2 and 3. Ch. Cesario stated that he understands the reason for the request. This camper moves, is in good condition and can barely be seen. Com. Khan asked staff to provide more information with future requests. He would like exact dimensions of the recreational vehicle and the dimensions of the garage. He stated that there are possible solutions, including storing the vehicles in the garage. He wants to protect the Ordinance. In the 18 years that his neighbor has had a boat, he barely ever sees the boat. Ms. Akash advised that sta ff did measure and the Petitioner’s garage door is seven feet wide compared to the width of the camper, which is seven feet one inch wide. Ms. Woods added that staff considers the Ordinance as well when reviewing the variation requests. Com. Au asked if the neighboring home shown in the photograph in the staff report is Ms. Marsh’s home. Ms. Marsh advised that her home is one home over from the neighboring home in the photograph. Com. Au asked the Petitioner if she spoke with the neighbor whose home is shown in the photo. Ms. Brannan stated that she did speak with that neighbor and they did not have an issue. Com. Au asked staff if any inquiries were received regarding this request. Ms. Akash advised there were none. Mr. Alex Ganzman, 981 Indian Spring Lane, was present and sworn in. Mr. Ganzman asked staff how many hearings were conducted prior to passing the current Ordinance. He also asked what input was taken before enacting the current Ordinance. Ch. Cesario explained to Mr. Ganzman that the Village held multiple public hearings before a draft Ordinance was presented to the Village Board. Many property owners appeared and testified. Mr. Ganzman asked why there has not been any communication since the Ordinance was approved. Ch. Cesario explained that there is a lot of information out there concerning the regulations. Ms. Woods added that staff has been working diligently to get the word out. There have been articles in the Village Newsletter and the E-News and pamphlets have been distributed since June. Door hangers were left at properties that have been identified with RV’s that may not meet the Ordinance. Mr. Ganzman stated that he would have liked to have seen more input from property owners before the Ordinance was approved. There were no additional questions or comments from the Commissioners. There were no additional questions or comments from the audience. Ch. Cesario entered the Staff Report dated October 3, 2018 as Exhibit 1 and the Petitioner’s letters as Exhibits 2 and 3. 10/3/2018 The public hearing was closed at 7:51 PM. Moved by Com. Weinstein, seconded by Com. Khan, to grant a variation to the RV regulations to allow a pop-up camper to be stored in the side yard year-round, subject to the following conditions: 1. The variation shall apply to the pop-up camper that has a size and shape reasonably consistent with the materials provided as part of the petition. 2. The variation shall not run with the land. 3. There will always be a fence or screening similar in size and shape of the existing fence, which currently is four feet eight inches tall, and shall be maintained in a manner acceptable by Village staff. 4. The camper will not be raised or elevated or stored in a manner higher than what presently exists. Ch. Cesario stated that the fence hides the camper. He had to look to see it. The camper is used and maintained. The lot is pie-shaped and narrow. The variation makes sense and he is supportive of the request. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mitchell Weinstein, Commissioner SECONDER: Zill Khan, Commissioner AYES: Cesario, Goldspiel, Khan, Weinstein, Au ABSENT: Adam Moodhe, Matthew Cohn, Scott Lesser 2. Consider Approval of an Amendment to Special Use Ordinance 97-4 as Amended by Ordinances 2018-019, 2017-050, 2015-56, and 2016-048 and Preliminary Plan Approval (Trustee Ottenheimer) (Staff Contact: Chris Stilling) Mr. Brian Paul, Premier Design & Build Group, 1000 W. Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL 60143, was present and sworn in. Mr. Paul reviewed the request. This request is similar to the prev ious approval given for the building addition. The Special Use needs to be amended to include a minimal change to the plan. The subject area is now occupied by the Kids Club, which is part of the existing building. The Petitioner knew at some point that th is area would need to be redesigned. They want to remove the existing Kids Club area and add a two-story addition that would incorporate into the existing building and the approved addition. With the construction of the new Woodman’s Grocery Store just to the south, they will not be able to come back at a later date to do so. This new two story addition area would be added and the other addition would remain unchanged. The proposed area would square off the building. The parking lot modifications are complete. The footprint of the building on the north and east elevations would remain unchanged. Mr. Paul reviewed the existing footprint of the building. This proposed change will not impact the business operations internally. The Petitioner is no longer constructing a basement within the previously approved addition. The proposed change would save time and allow them to incorporate some of the elements that would have gone into the basement. Mr. Paul reviewed the new proposed elevations and site plan. The proposed two story addition would barely be seen from the front of the building. 10/3/2018 Com. Goldspiel asked if the new proposed addition would have any effect on the site engineering or cause any issues. Mr. Paul explained that the impervious surface coverage would remain unchanged. The calculations are compliant. He is confident drainage would remain unchanged. There is a retention pond on the property adjacent to Woodman’s. Com. Goldspiel asked if there would be a floodplain or floodway impact. Mr. Paul responded there would not be any issues. Com. Goldspiel believes that the proposed addition would create a very long wall in the back of the building. Mr. Paul responded that the back of the building backs up to the back of the Woodman’s building and would not be visible from Deerfield Parkway. In addition, the length of the rear of the building is only one tenth the length of the Woodman’s building. Com. Goldspiel asked if the elevation could be softened. Mr. Paul responded that it is the rear of the building with no public access. The building is screened by the Woodman’s building and is not visible from Deerfield Parkway. The Petitioners have spent a lot of money to enhance the front of the building and this is just a small added wall. Com. Goldspiel asked about the spacing between the two buildings. Mr. Paul explained that there is currently an eight foot wide asphalt path that will continue to be maintained and is used by the Sky Fitness employees. It is not a vacant alley. Com. Goldspiel asked if there is security lighting at the rear of the building. Mr. Paul advised that there is security lighting at the rear in addition to the security lighting that Woodman’s has at the back of their building. Com. Weinstein noted that on page 20 of the packet, the square footage is noted as approximately 29,255 square feet of additional space. He asked if that was accurate. Mr. Paul explained that they would be adding only 4,650 square feet with this small addition. The 29,255 square feet is inclusive of the 4,650 square feet and will replace what was previously approved. Ms. Woods added that the request in front of the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) is for the 4,650 square foot addition and that the Petitioner is no longer adding a basement to the previously approved addition. Mr. Paul concurred that with the elimination of the basement, the project will net less square footage than what was previously approved. Com. Au asked if there is or will be security cameras at the back of the building. Mr. Paul responded that the Petitioner already has a very robust security plan in place. Ch. Cesario believes that this request to amend is straightforward and frankly unchanged from the previously approved plan. He is okay with staff’s recommendation. There were no additional questions or comments from the Commissioners. There were no questions or comments from the audience. Ch. Cesario entered the Staff Report dated October 3, 2018 as Exhibit 1. Mr. Paul thanked the PZC and appreciates the process. He asked for approval of the amendment. The Petitioner is looking to maximize the property in order to allow them to compete in the market. Overall, he believes the proposed addition is a better plan. The public hearing was closed at 8:17 PM Moved by Com. Weinstein, seconded by Com. Khan, to recommend to the Village Board to approve the amendment to the Special Use, subject to the following condition: 10/3/2018 1. The project shall conform to the plans attached as part of the petition. Com. Weinstein stated that he is in favor of the request. He has no concerns regarding the new rear elevation of the building. The request is straightforward. Ch. Cesario stated that he is comfortable and believes the Petitioner has done a terrific job. The site line is clear and he is not concerned. The plan wor ks well with the Woodman’s building. RESULT: RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mitchell Weinstein, Commissioner SECONDER: Zill Khan, Commissioner AYES: Cesario, Goldspiel, Khan, Weinstein, Au ABSENT: Adam Moodhe, Matthew Cohn, Scott Lesser Regular Meeting Other Matters for Discussion None. Approval of Minutes 1. Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting - Sep 5, 2018 7:30 PM Moved by Com. Au, seconded by Com. Weinstein, to approve the minutes of the September 5, 2018 regular meeting as submitted. RESULT: ACCEPTED [4 TO 0] MOVER: Amy Au, Commissioner SECONDER: Mitchell Weinstein, Commissioner AYES: Frank Cesario, Stephen Goldspiel, Mitchell Weinstein, Amy Au ABSTAIN: Zill Khan ABSENT: Adam Moodhe, Matthew Cohn, Scott Lesser Chairman's Report None. Committee and Liaison Reports Ch. Cesario advised that he attended the September 17, 2018 Village Board meeting. The following agenda items were approved by the Board: 1. Units of Northwest Chicago, 355 Hastings Drive 2. Courtyards at the Woodlands - entrance signs 3. True North Energy, 185 Milwaukee Avenue 10/3/2018 4. The Ordinance vacating a portion of the St. James Circle right-of-way. Staff Report/Future Agenda Schedule Ms. Woods advised that the October 17, 2018 PZC regular meeting is tentatively canc elled. Staff needs the Commissioners IPads to install an update. She reminded the PZC of the upcoming October 30, 2018 training. She also advised that an update to the Comprehensive Plan should be forthcoming in 2019. Public Comments and Questions None. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 PM Chris Stilling APPROVED BY ME THIS 3rd DAY OF October , 2018