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1998-08-05 - Plan Commission - Minutes REGULAR MEETING BUFFALO GROVE PLAN COMMISSION August 5, 1998 Proposed expansion of Metra commuter parking area, Commonwealth Edison properly and adjacent parcels, east of Commerce Court and south of Deerfield Parkway adjacent to the Wisconsin Central Railroad tracks-Annexation with zoning in the Industrial District and approval of a Special Use and Preliminary Plan— Workshop#1 Chairman Goldspiel 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: Chairman Goldspiel Ms. Howard Mr. Samuels Mr. Berman Mr. Trilling Mr. Ottenheimer Mr. Moons Commissioners absent: Mr. Krug Mr. Viehman Also present: Mr. Lee Szymborski, Assistant Village Manager Mr. Robert Pfeil, Village Planner APPROVAL OF MINUTES -None COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Commissioner Ottenheimer stated he attended the Village board meeting on July 20, 1998 and the following items were discussed: 1. The home day care center at 296 Windsor Drive was not approved for a special `./ use 2. The proposed LaQuinta Inn development at Milwaukee Avenue and Deerfield Parkway was referred to the Plan Commission Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 1 3. Annexation of the Walsh property in Prairie View was continued to the August 17, 1998 Board meeting to resolve certain issues concerning the timing of utility construction III Commissioner Berman stated he attended the Village board meetingAugust 3, 1998. He noted on gu that there was a referral to the Plan Commission for a development on the south side of Aptakisic Road east of the Grand Prix auto laundry property. The proposed development would include a gas station, car repair shop and a third commercial building. PROPOSED EXPANSION OF METRA COMMUTER PARKING AREA, COMMONWEALTH EDISON PROPERTY.AND ADJACENT PARCELS,EAST OF COMMERCE COURT AND SOUTH OF DEERFIELD PARKWAY ADJACENT TO THE WISCON,SIN CENTRAL RAILROAD TRACKS - ANNEXATION WITH ZONING IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL USE AND PRELIMINARY PLAN--WORKSHOP#1 Mr. Szymborski stated the Village is seeking annexation with zoning in the Industrial District and approval of a Special Use and Preliminary Plan. He noted that in 1994 the plan presented to the Plan Commission included the 451 parking spaces currently in place as well as an area for future expansion. This was the buildout to meet the 2010 projection, along with an 1,100 square foot station facility. Mr. Szymborski stated that in just two years since inception of the Metra North Central service, the amount of boardings has far exceeded Metra's projections for the Buffalo Grove facility. Metra's original projections for the entire North Central line was 3,900 daily boardings by 1998. At the present time, Buffalo Grove accounts for 900 boardings, and it is the busiest station on the line. Metra has been undertaking a major study of future improvements to its facilities, which is a requirement in order to get additional federal funding for system expansions. There is tremendous interest for more trains to serve the North Central line, and this will require a major investment to provide double-tracking. Metra's preliminary plan is to do a partial buildout of the North Central service. This means there would be double tracking for only part of the line from Antioch to Chicago. This improvement would accommodate 22 daily runs as opposed to a full buildout which would accommodate 52 runs. In the long term Metra would like to see the North Central service as a full service line. Mr. Szymborski stated it is necessary to accommodate additional parking demand that is already occurring at the Buffalo Grove facility as well projected demand to account for the planned service expansions. The proposed parking lot expansion would be on the Commonwealth Edison property. He stated that plan would provide for up to 211 additional parking spaces. He noted that a minimum of 130 additional spaces will be built as part of the current plan, and up to 200 spaces will be built if funding is available. He said it may be possible to the project this Fall, but a Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 2 number of items would need to be resolved to meet this schedule. Mr. Szymborkski explained that the parking lot expansion will be similar to the current parking facility. The same lighting standards and stall numbering system will be used. He indicated that an additional stormwater facility will be required to serve the new parking area. The two existing ponds cannot accommodate the additional stormwater detention needed on the site. He noted that the Village is in the process of negotiating with two property owners to acquire the land needed for the stormwater facility. Mr. Szymborski stated the Village has received an Operation Green Light grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation(IDOT)to do intersection improvements at Commerce Court and Deerfield Parkway. The improvements will include dual left turn lanes for traffic exiting Commerce Court to westbound Deerfield Parkway. This improvement is planned for construction in 1999. Mr. Szymborski said there is a minor change in the original plan for the commuter facility to construct a 400-square foot warming shelter. This shelter would be located halfway between the depot and the north windbreak. The shelter will accommodate passenger overflow at the depot and have the secondary benefit of spreading out passengers on the platform. Chairman Goldspiel asked for a description of the surrounding uses adjacent to the proposed addition. Mr. Szymborski stated the surrounding area is part of the Covington Corporate Center business park. Immediately to the south is Commonwealth Edison property. The stormwater facility is adjacent to a single family residence in unincorporated Lake County. Chairman Goldspiel asked if sufficient distance has been maintained between the stormwater facility and the residence to meet Village ordinances. Mr. Szymborski stated yes. He commented that the Village engineer has been in contact with Vernon Township to discuss drainage and stormwater runoff issues in the unincorporated area. Commissioner Moons asked if there are any plans for further expansion into the Commonwealth Edison property south of the proposed parking addition. Mr. Szymborski stated it is possible, but the distance to the boarding area would begin to reach the limits of how far commuters would be willing to walk. One of the long term plans for Metra is an additional warming shelter for the area south of the depot. Commissioner Trilling asked if there is any way of connecting the road from the residential area south of the parking lot. Commissioner Berman noted the street does not go far enough to allow for a connection. He Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 3 commented that a connection between the parking area and the residential street would send traffic down Newtown to Weiland, and residents in the area would probably consider it an undesirable impact on their neighborhood. Chairman Goldspiel noted some concern by some residents about emergency access and asked if there is a need to discuss emergency access running to the south. Commissioner Berman commented that there are only about three 5 to 10 minute periods in a given day in which there is any backup of commuter traffic at Commerce Court trying to enter . Deerfield Parkway. While the dual left turn lanes from Commerce to Deerfield is a useful improvement, it is not necessary to do major costly improvements on the bikepath to provide emergency access. Chairman Goldspiel commented that emergency access is veryimportant, and this issue should P g cY not be overlooked. Commissioner Berman stated this is a backwards condition. As people are leaving they are queuing up to turn left onto Deerfield Parkway and the entrance is still open. Even with people picking up commuters,the breaks in the traffic are such that those people are able to make a left turn into Commerce Court to access the commuter facility even in the worst peak traffic conditions. Chairman Goldspiel stated he would like to have this issue checked out with the police and fire departments to see if there is anything needed concerning emergency access. Mr. Szymborski said that he would check with the Police and Fire departments. Commissioner Samuels asked if there has been preliminary engineering to determine the amount of land that is necessary to provide the detention. Mr. Szymborski stated the amount of land presented on the site plan has been reviewed by the Village Engineer and it provides adequate capacity for the parking lot expansion. Commissioner Samuels asked if this would be adequate for any future expansion of the parking area. He inquired if the existing ponds on adjacent industrial properties could provide additional stormwater capacity. Mr. Szymborski said any additional detention requirements would have to be met by stormwater facilities at other locations. The Village Engineer has indicated that the existing ponds cannot provide additional capacity for parking lot expansions. Chairman Goldspiel asked if the green light project improvement of the Commerce Court/Deerfield Parkway intersection eliminate or significantly solve the backup problem in the Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 4 \ \ evening. Mr. Szymborski said it is now taking about 3 to 4 signal cycles for traffic to clear at the intersection. The latest observation by the Police Department determined that it takes about 12 minutes to get all the traffic through the intersection. This time will be significantly decreased with the dual left turn lanes. Chairman Goldspiel asked about the traffic circulation pattern in the parking lots. He asked if the LI ability for inbound traffic will be maintained when there is traffic coming out during the morning and evening rush hours. Mr. Szymborski stated traffic can flow both ways. He stated that what happens now is that most people want to get as close to the depot as possible. As parking spaces fill up near the depot, other people decide to go into the north end and park there. Commissioner Moons asked if the new signal at the Courtesy Company can be coordinated with the dual exit lanes at Commerce Court. Mr. Szymborski stated he will have some answers to that at the next hearing. FUTURE AGENDA SCHEDULE Mr. Pfeil noted the next meeting of the Plan Commission will be on August 19, 1998. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS -None STAFF REPORT -None NEW BUSINESS -None ADJOURNMENT Moved by Commissioner Ottenheimer, seconded by Commissioner Howard and carried unanimously to adjourn. Chairman Goldspiel adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Respec s lly submit'-•, tom. APP OVED BY. Fay 'ubin, ' ec.rding Secretary )7i 416704-d (STEP GOLDSPIEL, Chairman Buffalo Grove Plan Commission-Regular Meeting-August 5, 1998-Page 5