2012-10-17 - Plan Commission - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑ Plan commission
Document Type: 0 A e
g nda 0 Minutes
Meeting ate: 10/17/2012
Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting
REGULAR MEETING
BUFFALO GROVE PLAN COMMISSION
October 17, 2012
Veterinary Specialty Center, 1495 Busch Parkway
Special use for a veterinary rehabilitation facility in the Industrial District
Workshop #1
Vice Chair Khan called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Council
Chambers, Buffalo Grove Municipal Building, 50 Raupp Boulevard, Buffalo Grove,
Illinois.
Commissioners present: Mr. Khan
Mr. Stark
Mr. Cohn
Mr. Weinstein
Ms. Johnson
Mr. Goldspiel
Mr. Matthews
Commissioners absent: Mr. Smith
Ms. Myer
Also present: Dr. Mitchell Robbins, Veterinary Specialty Center
Ms. Jodi Kennedy, Veterinary Specialty Center
Mr. Warren Freedenfeld, Rauhaus Freedenfeld & Associates
Ms. Beverly Sussman, Village Trustee
Mr. Mike Terson, Village Trustee
Mr. Andrew Stein, Village Trustee
Mr. Robert Pfeil, Village Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Commissioner Goldspiel, seconded by Commissioner Stark to approve the
minutes of the regular meeting of September 19, 2012. All Commissioners were in favor
of the motion and the motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Matthews
abstaining.
COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
Commissioner Cohn attended the October 1, 2012 Village Board meeting and there
were no referrals or other items to report.
Commissioner Stark attended the October 15, 2012 Village board meeting and stated
the following items were discussed:
1. Ordinance was approved regarding a site plan modification to allow expansion of
the Bucky's Express building by 11 feet to increase the bathroom area.
2. Ordinances were approved re-authorizing the special uses for child day care
homes at 621 Harris Drive, 47 Chestnut Terrace and 457 Raphael Avenue.
3. Referral to the Plan Commission of the Veterinary Specialty Center at 1495
Busch Parkway. The Board had some questions about parking and animal waste
elimination areas.
VETERINARY SPECIAL CENTER, 1495 BUSCH PARKWAY - SPECIAL USE FOR A
VETERINARY REHABILITATION FACILITY IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT -
WORKSHOP #1
Dr. Robbins stated they are asking for a special use permit for the expansion for some
services they have at Veterinary Specialty Center. He stated they are currently
occupying space at 1515 Busch Parkway practicing multi-disciplinary specialty
veterinary internal medicine. He noted they have a very small area for rehabilitation and
physical therapy which has grown quite a bit over the past ten years and they would like
to expand their capabilities, but there is not enough space in their existing building to
add services.
Dr. Robbins stated the property at 1495 Busch Parkway is very close to their hospital
and they would like to expand their services in rehabilitation, sports medicine and
physical therapy in this new space.
Mr. Warren Freedenfeld stated his firm specializes in the design of animal care facilities.
He reviewed the plans for the project. He noted this is a specialty hospital primarily for
injured dogs. The physical therapy area will have wet treadmills, dry treadmills, a large
gym for rehabilitation, and three exam rooms. He reviewed the interior plans and the
various rooms and their purposes. He stated this is not a large facility but the building
accommodates the needs and requirements of this project.
Ms. Jodi Kennedy noted there is a slight variation to the floor plan in the packet
distributed for the workshop compared to the floor plan being presented by the architect.
Mr. Freedenfeld said the change to the floor plan was the addition of a second egress
corridor, and he pointed out the location of the corridor on the plan. He said the
development team met with the Village Deputy Fire Marshal, who seemed to be very
pleased with the plan and thinks it will work well for the staff and clients.
Mr. Freedenfeld noted there is a ramp that is used when dogs need to be walked. He
pointed out the location of the ramp and said this is where dogs will be taken and walked
on a leash to relieve themselves and then brought back into the facility. Waste would be
cleaned up regularly. He stated that veterinary hospitals have cleaner environments
around there sites than most neighborhoods. It is very important in a veterinary facility to
keep the grounds around the building clean.
Commissioner Stark asked if there had been any consideration in expanding the current
facility at 1515 Busch Parkway.
Mr. Freedenfeld said there isn't enough space in the existing facility to accommodate the
proposed rehabilitation services.
Commissioner Stark asked about the parking needs and the maximum parking required
for peak demand at the facility.
Dr. Robbins stated they calculated parking demand based on the floor plan and on
expected patient loads. They will probably need about 13 to 15 spaces, and they have
been allotted 20 spaces in the lease.
Commissioner Stark asked how many employees will be at the facility.
Dr. Robbins said there will be 6 to 7 employees. The patient load will be 6 to 7 pets at a
time, so the typical parking demand would be approximately 14 spaces assuming that
each employee and pet owner would need a parking space.
Commissioner Stark asked whether the patients are generally dropped off or if the
owners stay at the facility.
Dr. Robbins stated it is a bit of both. They try to be as flexible in scheduling so that if
people have to go to work they can drop pets off in the morning and pick them up in the
afternoon.
Commissioner Stark asked about the hours of operation for the facility.
Dr. Robbins stated for the most part it will be 7:00 am to 7:00 pm with some Saturday
hours similar to the existing facility. Occasionally they may conduct training and
continuing education on Sundays for other veterinary professionals. Currently they
conduct training at the existing facility such as evening lectures and some on Sundays.
They will have smaller workshops for clients and people who are interested learning
about the rehabilitation process.
Commissioner Stark noted the waste relief area is in the front yard along Busch
Parkway.
Dr. Robbins noted there are bushes and trees that help screen the area.
Commissioner Stark asked if they have had a chance to talk to other tenants in the
building.
Dr. Robbins stated they will be doing that this week.
Commissioner Matthews asked if this facility will be manned 24 hours per day.
Dr. Robbins stated no.
Commissioner Matthews asked if animals would stay overnight
Dr. Robbins stated some animals may be kept overnight, but they do not necessarily
require 24 hour care.
Commissioner Weinstein asked about the waste disposal process at the existing facility.
Ms. Kennedy noted the existing facility is much larger, so they have daily garbage
pickup and sharps containers are picked regularly. There will be minimal medical waste
at the 1495 facility. It would be some syringes for injectables and blood tests. They
would store it in a secure location and it would be picked up regularly along with the
same route at the Veterinary Specialty Center. In regards to garbage disposal they
would monitor it throughout the day. They have containers and plastics around the area
for clients to use. They will also be monitoring and cleaning the waste elimination area 2
to 3 times per day. The waste would be stored in a receptacle for service pick up. They
are not sure about how frequently they will need pick up service; initially it may be
needed about twice a week. If they need service more often, they will make the
necessary arrangements.
Commissioner Goldspiel asked if the petitioners would be using any portion of the
loading dock facilities in the building.
Mr. Freedenfeld stated it might be used for just some small deliveries. Other than that
this is not like a major warehouse facility. There might be some deliveries of supplies but
it is not a big part of this operation.
Commissioner Goldspiel asked if there is any access to the rest of the building from the
petitioner's portion of the building.
Mr. Freedenfeld stated no. He stated it is completely self contained.
Commissioner Goldspiel asked if the Village staff has any reports on the activities of the
other building that should be known about.
Mr. Pfeil stated he would check on that.
Vice Chair Khan told petitioners to prepare for a public hearing.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT- None
FUTURE AGENDA SCHEDULE
Mr. Pfeil noted November 7, 2012 will be the next regular meeting date.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS-- None
STAFF REPORT- None
NEW BUSINESS - None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Cohn, seconded by Commissioner Matthews and carried
unanimously to adjourn. Vice Chair Khan adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fay Rubin, Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY:
ZILL KHAN, Vice Chair